Dog Creek Dam is an earth dam located in O'Brien County, Iowa, built in 1967. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 43 ft43 ft tall and 1,150 ft long, taller than 89% 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 Dog Creek Dam
Dog Creek Dam is a dam in O'Brien, Iowa. The dam is owned by Obrien County Conservation Board (local government). It impounds the Dog Creek near Cherokee.
The dam stands 43 feet tall and stretches 1,150 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 29 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 918 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1967, 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 05/23/2022.
At 43 feet, this dam is taller than 89% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Iowa |
| County | O'Brien |
| Nearest City | Cherokee |
| River/Stream | Dog Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.93610, -95.46640 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 43 ft |
| Dam Height | 43 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,150 ft |
| Year Completed | 1967 (59 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 918 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 918 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 293 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 29 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | Obrien County Conservation Board |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 05/23/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IA00833 |
| Federal ID | IA00833 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |