Lake Darling Dam is an earth dam located in Washington County, Iowa, built in 1950. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 47 ft47 ft tall and 1,230 ft long, taller than 91% 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 Lake Darling Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Darling 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 Honey Creek near Coppock.
The dam stands 47 feet tall and stretches 1,230 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 304 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 9,823 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 19 square miles. Completed in 1950, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 06/03/2020.
At 47 feet, this dam is taller than 91% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Iowa |
| County | Washington |
| Nearest City | Coppock |
| River/Stream | Honey Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.20320, -91.90620 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,230 ft |
| Year Completed | 1950 (76 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 9,823 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 9,823 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,154 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 304 acres |
| Drainage Area | 19 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 | 06/03/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IA01381 |
| Federal ID | IA01381 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |