Lake Bella is an earth dam located in Nobles County, Minnesota, built in 1971. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 28 ft28 ft tall and 924 ft long, taller than 62% 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 Lake Bella
The primary purpose of Lake Bella 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 Wd of Okabena-ocheda (local government). It impounds the Ocheydan River near Allendorf, Iowa.
The dam stands 28 feet tall and stretches 924 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,220 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 67 square miles. Completed in 1971, 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. The most recent inspection on record was 07/31/2024.
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Location
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Nobles |
| Nearest City | Allendorf, Iowa |
| River/Stream | Ocheydan River |
| Coordinates | 43.50120, -95.62525 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Length | 924 ft |
| Year Completed | 1971 (55 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,220 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,220 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,150 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 67 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,177 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Wd of Okabena-ocheda |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 07/31/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MN00316 |
| Federal ID | MN00316 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |