Lake Smith Dam is an earth dam located in Kossuth County, Iowa, built in 1965. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 21 ft21 ft tall and 570 ft long. 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 Smith Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Smith Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Kossuth County Conservation Board (local government). It impounds the Tr-black Cat Creek near Algona.
The dam stands 21 feet tall and stretches 570 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 53 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 463 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1965, 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.
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Location
| State | Iowa |
| County | Kossuth |
| Nearest City | Algona |
| River/Stream | Tr-black Cat Creek |
| Coordinates | 43.12170, -94.23780 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Length | 570 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 463 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 463 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 245 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 53 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Kossuth County Conservation Board |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/08/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IA00570 |
| Federal ID | IA00570 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |