Dakins Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Story County, Iowa, built in 2014. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 40 ft40 ft tall and 1,600 ft long, taller than 86% 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 Dakins Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Dakins Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Story County Conservation Board (local government). It impounds the Tr-minerva Creek near Zearing.
The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 1,600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 12 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 406 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 2014, the structure is relatively new.
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 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 05/28/2024.
At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 86% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Iowa |
| County | Story |
| Nearest City | Zearing |
| River/Stream | Tr-minerva Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.16780, -93.29290 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,600 ft |
| Year Completed | 2014 (12 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 406 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 406 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 238 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 12 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Story County Conservation Board |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 05/28/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IA04230 |
| Federal ID | IA04230 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |