Little River Watershed Site 65

Little River Watershed Site 65 is an earth dam located in Decatur County, Iowa, built in 1987. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.

About Little River Watershed Site 65

The primary purpose of Little River Watershed Site 65 is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Decatur County Swcd (local government). It impounds the West Little River near State Of Missouri.

The dam stands 45 feet tall and stretches 1,470 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 144 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 6,700 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 9 square miles. Completed in 1987, the structure is 39 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 05/28/2024.

At 45 feet, this dam is taller than 91% of dams nationwide.

Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.

Significant HazardFair ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Not Required

Location

StateIowa
CountyDecatur
Nearest CityState Of Missouri
River/StreamWest Little River
Coordinates40.75930, -93.81410

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height45 ft
Dam Height45 ft
Dam Length1,470 ft
Year Completed1987 (39 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage6,700 acre-ft
Max Storage6,700 acre-ft
Normal Storage959 acre-ft
Surface Area144 acres
Drainage Area9 sq mi
Spillway TypeUncontrolled

Ownership & Safety

PurposeFlood Risk Reduction
OwnerDecatur County SWCD
Owner TypeLocal Government
Hazard ClassificationSignificant
Condition AssessmentFair
Last Inspection05/28/2024
Emergency Action PlanNot Required

Identifiers

NID IDIA02349
Federal IDIA02349
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

Nearby Dams