Swiss Lake Estates Dam
Swiss Lake Estates Dam is an earth dam located in Fayette County, Iowa, built in 1967. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Swiss Lake Estates Dam
The primary purpose of Swiss Lake Estates Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Fisher Family Farms Trust (private). It impounds the Beaver Creek near Elkader.
The dam stands 44 feet tall and stretches 540 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 11 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 261 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1967, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected 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 08/07/2019.
At 44 feet, this dam is taller than 90% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Iowa |
| County | Fayette |
| Nearest City | Elkader |
| River/Stream | Beaver Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.91990, -91.64730 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Length | 540 ft |
| Year Completed | 1967 (59 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 261 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 261 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 194 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 11 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Fisher Family Farms Trust |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 08/07/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IA02042 |
| Federal ID | IA02042 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |