34Total Dams
2High Hazard
6Significant
Dam Safety in Des Moines County, Iowa
Des Moines County has 34 dams tracked in the National Inventory of Dams. Of these, 2 are classified as high hazard — meaning failure would probably cause loss of human life. Another 6 carry a significant hazard classification. Currently, 2 dams have a condition assessment of poor or unsatisfactory.
The average dam in Des Moines County is 54 years old. The most common purpose is fire protection, stock, or small fish pond. The tallest dam is Des Moines County Roadgrade Dam 18-70-2 at 84 ft.
Explore more: Oldest dams in Iowa · Tallest dams · High risk dams · Largest reservoirs
| Dam | Hazard | Condition | Height (ft) | Purpose | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zaiser Dam | High | Satisfactory | 61 | Recreation | 2010 |
| Schoenewe Dam | High | Poor | 41 | Recreation | 1978 |
| Big Hollow Dam | Significant | Satisfactory | 60 | Recreation | 2008 |
| Geode Lake Dam | Significant | Satisfactory | 59 | Recreation | 1949 |
| Murguia Dam | Significant | Satisfactory | 43 | Recreation | 1978 |
| Mississippi River Lock and Dam 18 | Significant | Not assessed | 41 | Navigation | 1937 |
| Burlington Northern Dam | Significant | Not assessed | 25 | Other | 1930 |
| Izaak Walton Lake Dam | Significant | Satisfactory | 22 | Recreation | 1921 |
| Des Moines County Roadgrade Dam 18-70-2 | Low | Not assessed | 84 | Irrigation | 1987 |
| Mathes | Low | Poor | 64 | Recreation | 1941 |
| Bohlen Dam | Low | Not assessed | 52 | Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond | 1985 |
| Burlington Y-camp Dam | Low | Satisfactory | 47 | Recreation | 1966 |
| Wagner Dam | Low | Not assessed | 42 | Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond | 1986 |
| White Dam | Low | Not assessed | 40 | Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond | 1988 |
| Dawson Dam | Low | Not assessed | 40 | Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond | 1972 |
| Walker Dam | Low | Not assessed | 38 | Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond | 1985 |
| Jarrett Dam | Low | Not assessed | 35 | Grade Stabilization | 2023 |
| Fitzmorris Dam | Low | Not assessed | 34 | Recreation | 1980 |
| Shaw Dam | Low | Not assessed | 33 | Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond | 1969 |
| Hulen/murphy Dam | Low | Not assessed | 33 | Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond | 1968 |
| Hilleary Dam | Low | Not assessed | 32 | Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond | 1989 |
| Iowa Noname12 | Low | Not assessed | 32 | Recreation | 1967 |
| Giffin Dam | Low | Not assessed | 32 | Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond | 1965 |
| Latty Dam | Low | Not assessed | 32 | Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond | 1966 |
| Kinney Dam | Low | Not assessed | 32 | Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond | 1969 |
| Carter Dam | Low | Not assessed | 31 | Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond | 1986 |
| Camp Hawkeye Dam | Low | Not assessed | 30 | Recreation | 1992 |
| Iowa Noname91 | Low | Not assessed | 29 | Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond | 1980 |
| Stump Lake | Low | Satisfactory | 29 | Recreation | 1941 |
| Fritz Dam | Low | Not assessed | 26 | Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond | 1985 |
| Des Moines County Roadgrade Dam 6-69-4 | Low | Not assessed | 26 | Other | 1985 |
| Gerdner Dam | Low | Not assessed | 25 | Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond | 1945 |
| Nelson Dam | Low | Not assessed | 24 | Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond | 1966 |
| West Lake Dam | Low | Not assessed | 21 | Recreation | 1921 |