Upper Pine Lake Dam dam
Upper Pine Lake Dam
The Upper Pine Lake Dam in Eldora, Iowa, stands as a vital structure along Pine Creek, serving as a recreational hub since its completion in 1934. Managed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, this earth dam spans 490 feet in length and reaches a height of 42 feet, providing a storage capacity of 2,710 acre-feet. With a primary purpose of recreation, the dam offers a serene surface area of 110 acres for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy.
Despite its satisfactory condition assessment, the Upper Pine Lake Dam poses a significant hazard potential, prompting a moderate risk assessment. The dam's spillway, an uncontrolled structure with a width of 75 feet, plays a crucial role in managing water flow and maintaining the dam's integrity. Regular inspections, conducted every five years, ensure that the dam meets regulatory guidelines and remains safe for public use.
Located in Hardin County, the Upper Pine Lake Dam serves as a testament to responsible water resource management and the importance of maintaining critical infrastructure in the face of changing climate conditions. As climate enthusiasts and water resource advocates, it is essential to continue monitoring and supporting initiatives that promote the safety and sustainability of dams like Upper Pine Lake for the benefit of both the environment and local communities.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Upper Pine Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Fork Iowa River Ne Of New Providence | 163 cfs | → |
| Iowa River At Marshalltown | 768 cfs | → |
| Beaver Creek At New Hartford | 254 cfs | → |
| Timber Creek Near Marshalltown | 88 cfs | → |
| Black Hawk Creek At Hudson | 191 cfs | → |
| West Fork Cedar River At Finchford | 517 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Pine Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- County Road S56 Hardin County
- Eastwood Drive Eldora
- 1st Street Eldora
- River Street 126, Iowa Falls
- Marsh Avenue Marshall County
- Bb Avenue Tama County
Track Upper Pine Lake Dam in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Upper Pine Lake Dam
Where does the data for Upper Pine Lake Dam come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Significant hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Upper Pine Lake Dam.