Yellowsmoke Park Dam
Yellowsmoke Park Dam is an earth dam located in Crawford County, Iowa, built in 1980. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Yellowsmoke Park Dam
The primary purpose of Yellowsmoke Park Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Crawford County Conservation Board (local government). It impounds the Mud Creek near Denison.
The dam stands 59 feet tall and stretches 940 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 38 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,680 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1980, the structure is 46 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 04/24/2023.
At 59 feet, this dam is taller than 95% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Crawford |
| Nearest City | Denison |
| River/Stream | Mud Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.02240, -95.32530 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 59 ft |
| Dam Height | 59 ft |
| Dam Length | 940 ft |
| Year Completed | 1980 (46 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,680 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,680 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 497 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 38 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Crawford County Conservation Board |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/24/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IA02014 |
| Federal ID | IA02014 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |