Lower Pine Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Hardin County, Iowa, built in 1922. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 33 ft33 ft tall and 450 ft long, taller than 76% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Lower Pine Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Lower Pine Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Iowa Department of Natural Resources (state). It impounds the Pine Creek near Eldora.
The dam stands 33 feet tall and stretches 450 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 85 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 924 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 15 square miles. Completed in 1922, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 07/07/2021.
At 33 feet, this dam is taller than 76% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Iowa |
| County | Hardin |
| Nearest City | Eldora |
| River/Stream | Pine Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.36640, -93.07850 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Length | 450 ft |
| Year Completed | 1922 (104 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 924 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 924 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 360 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 85 acres |
| Drainage Area | 15 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Iowa Department of Natural Resources |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/07/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IA01346 |
| Federal ID | IA01346 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |