Badger Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Webster County, Iowa, built in 1963. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 35 ft35 ft tall and 593 ft long, taller than 80% 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 Badger Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Badger Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Webster County Conservation Board (local government). It impounds the Badger Creek near Fort Dodge.
The dam stands 35 feet tall and stretches 593 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 50 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 865 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 19 square miles. Completed in 1963, 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 07/14/2020.
At 35 feet, this dam is taller than 80% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Iowa |
| County | Webster |
| Nearest City | Fort Dodge |
| River/Stream | Badger Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.58730, -94.19430 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Length | 593 ft |
| Year Completed | 1963 (63 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 865 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 865 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 400 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 50 acres |
| Drainage Area | 19 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Webster County Conservation Board |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 07/14/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IA01156 |
| Federal ID | IA01156 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |