Blue Grass Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Scott County, Iowa, built in 1974. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 28 ft28 ft tall and 850 ft long, taller than 62% 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 Blue Grass Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Blue Grass Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Scott County Conservation Board (local government). It impounds the Black Hawk Creek near I-280 Lake.
The dam stands 28 feet tall and stretches 850 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 13 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 490 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1974, 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 06/17/2020.
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Location
| State | Iowa |
| County | Scott |
| Nearest City | I-280 Lake |
| River/Stream | Black Hawk Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.52660, -90.68790 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Length | 850 ft |
| Year Completed | 1974 (52 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 490 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 490 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 93 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 13 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Scott County Conservation Board |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/17/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IA01970 |
| Federal ID | IA01970 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |