Mathes
Mathes is an earth dam located in Des Moines County, Iowa, built in 1941. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Mathes
The primary purpose of Mathes is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Iowa Army Ammunition Plant (federal). It impounds the Long Creek near Ft. Madison.
The dam stands 64 feet tall and stretches 1,120 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 74 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 1,440 acre-feet. Completed in 1941, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/11/2016.
At 64 feet, this dam is taller than 96% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | Iowa |
| County | Des Moines |
| Nearest City | Ft. Madison |
| River/Stream | Long Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.78164, -91.25241 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 64 ft |
| Dam Height | 64 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,120 ft |
| Year Completed | 1941 (85 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,440 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,440 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,220 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 74 acres |
| Max Discharge | 15,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Iowa Army Ammunition Plant |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 10/11/2016 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IA00019 |
| Federal ID | IA00019 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |