Lake Cimarron
Lake Cimarron is an earth dam located in Poweshiek County, Iowa, built in 2012. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Cimarron
The primary purpose of Lake Cimarron is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Joan Ahrens / Cimarron Llc (private). It impounds the Trib To Lake Ponderosa near Lake Ponderosa.
The dam stands 27 feet tall and stretches 700 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 27 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 569 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 2012, the structure is relatively new.
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 05/30/2024.
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 | Poweshiek |
| Nearest City | Lake Ponderosa |
| River/Stream | Trib To Lake Ponderosa |
| Coordinates | 41.59380, -92.57280 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Length | 700 ft |
| Year Completed | 2012 (14 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 569 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 569 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 264 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 27 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,980 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Joan Ahrens / Cimarron LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/30/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IA04140 |
| Federal ID | IA04140 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |