Black Hawk Lake Dam
Black Hawk Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Sac County, Iowa, built in 1916. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Black Hawk Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Black Hawk 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 Iowa Department Of Natural Resources (state). It impounds the Wall Lake Outlet near Lake View.
The dam stands 12 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 920 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 10,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 23 square miles. Completed in 1916, 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 06/24/2024.
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Location
| State | Iowa |
| County | Sac |
| Nearest City | Lake View |
| River/Stream | Wall Lake Outlet |
| Coordinates | 42.29990, -95.00620 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Height | 12 ft |
| Year Completed | 1916 (110 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 10,500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 10,500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 5,520 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 920 acres |
| Drainage Area | 23 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Iowa Department of Natural Resources |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/24/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IA03524 |
| Federal ID | IA03524 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |