Lake of Three Fires Dam is an earth dam located in Taylor County, Iowa, built in 1967. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 32 ft32 ft tall and 980 ft long, taller than 74% 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 of Three Fires Dam
The primary purpose of Lake of Three Fires Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Iowa Department of Natural Resources (state). It impounds the Tr-east 102 River near Bedford.
The dam stands 32 feet tall and stretches 980 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 125 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,100 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 08/03/2021.
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Location
| State | Iowa |
| County | Taylor |
| Nearest City | Bedford |
| River/Stream | Tr-east 102 River |
| Coordinates | 40.70920, -94.68800 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Length | 980 ft |
| Year Completed | 1967 (59 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,100 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,100 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,231 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 125 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Iowa Department of Natural Resources |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/03/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IA01058 |
| Federal ID | IA01058 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |