Big Creek Terminal Dam
Big Creek Terminal Dam is a gravity dam located in Polk County, Iowa, built in 1972. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
About Big Creek Terminal Dam
The primary purpose of Big Creek Terminal Dam 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 Usace - Rock Island District (federal). It impounds the Big Creek Diversion Channel.
The dam stands 95 feet tall and stretches 480 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 885 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 27,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 76 square miles. Completed in 1972, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 12/06/2022.
At 95 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | Iowa |
| County | Polk |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | Big Creek Diversion Channel |
| Coordinates | 41.78179, -93.74118 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 95 ft |
| Dam Height | 70 ft |
| Dam Length | 480 ft |
| Year Completed | 1972 (54 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 27,500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 27,500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 15,600 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 885 acres |
| Drainage Area | 76 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 33,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Rock Island District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 12/06/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IA00015 |
| Federal ID | IA00015 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |