Black Hawk Lake Dam dam
Black Hawk Lake Dam
Black Hawk Lake Dam, located in Lake View, Iowa, was completed in 1916 and serves as a critical infrastructure for flood risk reduction along the Wall Lake Outlet. The dam is classified as an earth dam, standing at a height of 12 feet and with a storage capacity of 10,500 acre-feet. With a surface area of 920 acres and a drainage area of 23.4 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water flow and reducing flood risks in the region.
Managed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Black Hawk Lake Dam is regulated and inspected regularly to ensure its structural integrity and functionality. The dam has a significant hazard potential, but its condition assessment in 2019 deemed it satisfactory. Despite the moderate risk level associated with the dam, it continues to meet guidelines for emergency action preparedness and risk management measures.
With its primary purpose being flood risk reduction, Black Hawk Lake Dam not only safeguards the local community from potential flooding but also provides recreational opportunities for visitors. The dam's uncontrolled spillway, with a width of 38 feet, contributes to its efficient water management system. Overall, Black Hawk Lake Dam stands as a vital component in the water resource and climate management efforts in the region.
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 Black Hawk Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Raccoon River Near Sac City | 426 cfs | → |
| North Raccoon River Near Jefferson | 1,150 cfs | → |
| Little Sioux River At Correctionville | 2,650 cfs | → |
| Maple River At Mapleton | 404 cfs | → |
| Little Sioux River At Linn Grove | 1,670 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River At Fort Dodge | 3,000 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Black Hawk Lake Dam.
Boat launches
Track Black Hawk Lake 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 Black Hawk Lake Dam
Where does the data for Black Hawk Lake 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 Black Hawk Lake Dam.