Oak Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Kossuth County, Iowa, built in 1971. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 50 ft50 ft tall and 1,260 ft long, taller than 92% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Oak Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Oak Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Oak Lake Properties Inc (private). It impounds the Tr-east Fork Des Moines River near Algona.
The dam stands 50 feet tall and stretches 1,260 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 68 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,015 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 9 square miles. Completed in 1971, 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 09/08/2022.
At 50 feet, this dam is taller than 92% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Iowa |
| County | Kossuth |
| Nearest City | Algona |
| River/Stream | Tr-east Fork Des Moines River |
| Coordinates | 43.12660, -94.18010 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,260 ft |
| Year Completed | 1971 (55 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,015 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,015 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 815 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 68 acres |
| Drainage Area | 9 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Oak Lake Properties Inc |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/08/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IA00569 |
| Federal ID | IA00569 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |