Little River Watershed Site 51-1 is an earth dam located in Decatur County, Iowa, built in 2005. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 30 ft30 ft tall and 863 ft long, taller than 68% 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 Little River Watershed Site 51-1
The primary purpose of Little River Watershed Site 51-1 is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Decatur County Swcd (local government). It impounds the Britton Branch near State of Missouri.
The dam stands 30 feet tall and stretches 863 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 60 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,827 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 2005, the structure is relatively new.
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 05/28/2024.
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Location
| State | Iowa |
| County | Decatur |
| Nearest City | State of Missouri |
| River/Stream | Britton Branch |
| Coordinates | 40.71940, -93.79810 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Length | 863 ft |
| Year Completed | 2005 (21 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,827 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,827 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 331 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 60 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Decatur County Swcd |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/28/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IA03511 |
| Federal ID | IA03511 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |