Bobwhite Lake Dam
Bobwhite Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Wayne County, Iowa, built in 1900. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Bobwhite Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Bobwhite Lake 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 South Fork Chariton River near Rathbun Reservoir.
The dam stands 27 feet tall and stretches 630 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 104 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,800 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1900, the structure is over a century 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 08/08/2023.
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Location
| State | Iowa |
| County | Wayne |
| Nearest City | Rathbun Reservoir |
| River/Stream | South Fork Chariton River |
| Coordinates | 40.71890, -93.40120 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Length | 630 ft |
| Year Completed | 1900 (126 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,800 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,800 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 800 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 104 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Iowa Department of Natural Resources |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 08/08/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IA01384 |
| Federal ID | IA01384 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |