Easter Lake Stormwater Retention Basin - Site 9 is an earth dam located in Polk County, Iowa, built in 2005. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 24 ft24 ft tall and 475 ft long. 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 Easter Lake Stormwater Retention Basin - Site 9
The primary purpose of Easter Lake Stormwater Retention Basin - Site 9 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 City of Des Moines (local government). It impounds the Tr- Yeader Creek near Des Moines.
The dam stands 24 feet tall and stretches 475 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 168 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 2005, the structure is relatively new.
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 04/15/2024.
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 | Des Moines |
| River/Stream | Tr- Yeader Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.52880, -93.55560 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Length | 475 ft |
| Year Completed | 2005 (21 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 168 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 168 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 23 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | City of Des Moines |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/15/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IA03519 |
| Federal ID | IA03519 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |