Mississippi River Locks and Dam 15 is a concrete dam located in Scott County, Iowa, built in 1934. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 41 ft41 ft tall and 1,606 ft long, taller than 87% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Mississippi River Locks and Dam 15
The primary purpose of Mississippi River Locks and Dam 15 is navigation. The dam maintains water levels sufficient for boat and barge traffic, supporting commercial or recreational navigation on the waterway. The dam is owned by USACE - Rock Island District (federal). It impounds the Mississippi River near Rock Island.
The dam stands 41 feet tall and stretches 1,606 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3,740 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 30,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 88,500 square miles. Completed in 1934, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/10/2025.
At 41 feet, this dam is taller than 87% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Iowa |
| County | Scott |
| Nearest City | Rock Island |
| River/Stream | Mississippi River |
| Coordinates | 41.51820, -90.56632 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 41 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,606 ft |
| Year Completed | 1934 (92 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 30,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 30,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3,740 acres |
| Drainage Area | 88,500 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 345,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Navigation |
| Owner | USACE - Rock Island District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 06/10/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IA00007 |
| Federal ID | IA00007 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |