Cedar Falls Milldam

CEDAR RIVER· Black Hawk, Iowa· Built 1939· Gravity· 12 ft tall
Low Hazard Recreation Local Government

Key Takeaway

Cedar Falls Milldam is classified as low hazard in Iowa. It was completed in 1939 and is 87 years old. Its primary use is recreation.

Physical Details

Dam Height 12 ft (taller than 3.1% in IA)
Dam Length350 ft
Dam TypeGravity
Max Storage1.4K acre-ft
Normal Storage1.4K acre-ft
Surface Area230 acres
Drainage Area4,787 sq mi
Max Discharge0 cfs
Year Completed1939 (87 years old)
NID IDIA01213

Safety Information

Low Hazard

No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected.

Hazard potential describes downstream consequences of failure, not the dam's current condition. What does this mean?

Emergency Action Plan: No
State Regulated: Yes
Regulatory Agency: IOWA DNR

Ownership

City of Cedar Falls

Local Government

Nearby Dams

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hazard classification of Cedar Falls Milldam?

Cedar Falls Milldam is classified as Low Hazard. No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected. This classification refers to the potential downstream consequences of a failure, not the dam's current structural condition.

Who owns and operates Cedar Falls Milldam?

Cedar Falls Milldam is owned by City of Cedar Falls (Local Government). The owner is responsible for maintenance, inspections, and compliance with dam safety regulations.

When was Cedar Falls Milldam built?

Cedar Falls Milldam was completed in 1939, making it 87 years old. Many U.S. dams were built between the 1930s and 1970s during a period of major infrastructure investment.

What is the primary purpose of Cedar Falls Milldam?

Cedar Falls Milldam serves the following purposes: Recreation. Many dams in the U.S. are multi-purpose, supporting flood control, water supply, recreation, and other uses.

How tall is Cedar Falls Milldam?

Cedar Falls Milldam has a dam height of 12 ft. Dam height is measured from the natural streambed at the downstream toe to the top of the dam, and may differ from the visible height.

Data from the National Inventory of Dams (NID) maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Dam conditions may have changed since the last update. This site is not affiliated with USACE. Do not use for emergency planning — contact your local dam safety program.