Hawthorne Lake Dam
Hawthorne Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Mahaska County, Iowa, built in 1979. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Hawthorne Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Hawthorne 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 Pleasant Creek near Lacey.
The dam stands 45 feet tall and stretches 900 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 160 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,100 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1979, the structure is 47 years 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 11/08/2022.
At 45 feet, this dam is taller than 91% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Iowa |
| County | Mahaska |
| Nearest City | Lacey |
| River/Stream | Pleasant Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.47520, -92.45790 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Length | 900 ft |
| Year Completed | 1979 (47 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,100 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,100 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,890 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 160 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 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 | 11/08/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IA01874 |
| Federal ID | IA01874 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |