Zaiser Dam
Zaiser Dam is an earth dam located in Des Moines County, Iowa, built in 2010. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Zaiser Dam
The primary purpose of Zaiser Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Marc Zaiser (private). It impounds the Trib Haight Creek near Kingston (unincorporated).
The dam stands 61 feet tall and stretches 525 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 9 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 205 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 2010, the structure is relatively new.
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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/02/2024.
At 61 feet, this dam is taller than 95% 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 | Des Moines |
| Nearest City | Kingston (unincorporated) |
| River/Stream | Trib Haight Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.96670, -91.04330 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 61 ft |
| Dam Height | 61 ft |
| Dam Length | 525 ft |
| Year Completed | 2010 (16 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 205 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 205 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 135 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 9 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 978 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Marc Zaiser |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/02/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IA04148 |
| Federal ID | IA04148 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |