Murguia Dam is an earth dam located in Des Moines County, Iowa, built in 1978. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 43 ft43 ft tall and 520 ft long, taller than 89% 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 embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Murguia Dam
The primary purpose of Murguia Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Martee Murguia (private). It impounds the Tr-yellow Spring Creek near Mississippi River.
The dam stands 43 feet tall and stretches 520 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 30 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 675 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1978, the structure is 48 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 07/07/2024.
At 43 feet, this dam is taller than 89% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Iowa |
| County | Des Moines |
| Nearest City | Mississippi River |
| River/Stream | Tr-yellow Spring Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.96400, -91.13140 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 43 ft |
| Dam Height | 43 ft |
| Dam Length | 520 ft |
| Year Completed | 1978 (48 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 675 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 675 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 397 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 30 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Martee Murguia |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/07/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IA02017 |
| Federal ID | IA02017 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |