Littlefield Lake Dam
Littlefield Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Audubon County, Iowa, built in 1977. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Littlefield Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Littlefield Lake Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Audubon County Conservation Board (local government). It impounds the Tr-troublesome Creek near Atlantic.
The dam stands 45 feet tall and stretches 1,205 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 69 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,278 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1977, the structure is 49 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/30/2023.
At 45 feet, this dam is taller than 91% of dams nationwide.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Iowa dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Iowa |
| County | Audubon |
| Nearest City | Atlantic |
| River/Stream | Tr-troublesome Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.56020, -94.78950 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,205 ft |
| Year Completed | 1977 (49 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,278 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,278 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 561 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 69 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Audubon County Conservation Board |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/30/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IA01691 |
| Federal ID | IA01691 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |