Hartley Pond
Hartley Pond is a gravity dam located in St. Louis County, Minnesota, built in 1975. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Hartley Pond
The primary purpose of Hartley Pond 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 City Of Duluth (local government). It impounds the Tischer Creek near Duluth.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 250 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 20 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 90 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1975, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/11/2024.
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 Minnesota 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 | Minnesota |
| County | St. Louis |
| Nearest City | Duluth |
| River/Stream | Tischer Creek |
| Coordinates | 46.83748, -92.08626 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 250 ft |
| Year Completed | 1975 (51 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 90 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 90 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 54 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 20 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | City of Duluth |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 07/11/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MN00004 |
| Federal ID | MN00004 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |