Dakins Lake Dam (Original Dam) dam
Dakins Lake Dam (Original Dam)
Dakins Lake Dam (Original Dam) in Zearing, Iowa, stands as a significant earth dam completed in 1951 by the USDA SCS, with a height of 24 feet and a length of 520 feet. It serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a storage capacity of 77 acre-feet and covering a surface area of 5.5 acres. The dam is regulated by the Iowa DNR, ensuring regular inspections, permitting, and enforcement to maintain its structural integrity and safety.
Located on TR-Minerva Creek in Story County, Iowa, Dakins Lake Dam poses a moderate risk level due to its significant hazard potential and uncontrolled spillway type. Its condition assessment is currently not rated, with emergency action plans and risk management measures yet to be fully established. However, the dam's ownership by the local government and state jurisdiction guarantee ongoing maintenance and monitoring to mitigate potential threats and ensure the safety of surrounding communities and water resources.
As a vital structure in the region, Dakins Lake Dam plays a crucial role in water resource management and climate adaptation efforts. Its presence on Minerva Creek contributes to the overall drainage area and water flow dynamics, highlighting the interconnectedness of dams with the natural environment. With its historical significance and recreational value, the dam serves as a reminder of the importance of sustainable infrastructure development and the need for continued assessment and maintenance to address evolving climate challenges.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Dakins Lake Dam (Original Dam) -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Fork Iowa River Ne Of New Providence | 504 cfs | → |
| South Skunk River Near Ames | 787 cfs | → |
| South Skunk River Below Squaw Creek Near Ames | 1,630 cfs | → |
| Squaw Creek At Ames | 464 cfs | → |
| Iowa River At Marshalltown | 2,260 cfs | → |
| Indian Creek Near Mingo | 933 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Dakins Lake Dam (Original Dam).
Boat launches
- 250th Street Story County
- 255th Street Story County
- Marsh Avenue Marshall County
- Arney Avenue Marshall County
- 1st Street Eldora
- Eastwood Drive Eldora
Track Dakins Lake Dam (Original Dam) in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Dakins Lake Dam (Original Dam)
Where does the data for Dakins Lake Dam (Original Dam) come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Significant hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Dakins Lake Dam (Original Dam).