Bays Branch
Bays Branch is an earth dam located in Guthrie County, Iowa, built in 1962. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Bays Branch
The primary purpose of Bays Branch 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 Tr-bay Branch near Redfield.
The dam stands 19 feet tall and stretches 700 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 272 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,638 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 14 square miles. Completed in 1962, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 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 05/06/2021.
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Location
| State | Iowa |
| County | Guthrie |
| Nearest City | Redfield |
| River/Stream | Tr-bay Branch |
| Coordinates | 41.71580, -94.33230 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 19 ft |
| Dam Height | 19 ft |
| Dam Length | 700 ft |
| Year Completed | 1962 (64 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,638 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,638 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,088 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 272 acres |
| Drainage Area | 14 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 | 05/06/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IA00434 |
| Federal ID | IA00434 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |