Lake Iowa Dam is an earth dam located in Iowa County, Iowa, built in 1962. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 40 ft40 ft tall and 893 ft long, taller than 86% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Lake Iowa Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Iowa Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Iowa County Conservation Board (local government). It impounds the Pig Creek near Riverside.
The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 893 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 92 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,950 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1962, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 05/24/2023.
At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 86% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Iowa |
| County | Iowa |
| Nearest City | Riverside |
| River/Stream | Pig Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.63350, -92.17170 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Length | 893 ft |
| Year Completed | 1962 (64 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,950 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,950 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,110 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 92 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Iowa County Conservation Board |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 05/24/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IA00520 |
| Federal ID | IA00520 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |