West Lakes Office Park Dam
West Lakes Office Park Dam is an earth dam located in Polk County, Iowa, built in 1990. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About West Lakes Office Park Dam
The primary purpose of West Lakes Office Park 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 Iowa Farm Bureau Federation Property Management Inc. (private). It impounds the Tr-walnut Creek near West Des Moines.
The dam stands 41 feet tall and stretches 930 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 10 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 267 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1990, the structure is 36 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/11/2023.
At 41 feet, this dam is taller than 88% of dams nationwide.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Iowa dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Iowa |
| County | Polk |
| Nearest City | West Des Moines |
| River/Stream | Tr-walnut Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.59980, -93.78330 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 41 ft |
| Dam Height | 41 ft |
| Dam Length | 930 ft |
| Year Completed | 1990 (36 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 267 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 267 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 85 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 10 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Iowa Farm Bureau Federation Property Management Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/11/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IA02499 |
| Federal ID | IA02499 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |