Pleasant Creek Lake Dam
Pleasant Creek Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Linn County, Iowa, built in 1977. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Pleasant Creek Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Pleasant Creek Lake Dam 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 Iowa Department Of Natural Resources (state). It impounds the Pleasant Creek near Palo.
The dam stands 73 feet tall and stretches 2,450 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 410 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 11,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1977, the structure is 49 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/27/2024.
At 73 feet, this dam is taller than 97% of all dams in the United States.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Iowa dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Iowa |
| County | Linn |
| Nearest City | Palo |
| River/Stream | Pleasant Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.12570, -91.81040 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 73 ft |
| Dam Height | 73 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,450 ft |
| Year Completed | 1977 (49 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 11,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 11,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 7,100 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 410 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Iowa Department of Natural Resources |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/27/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IA02083 |
| Federal ID | IA02083 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |