List of dam removals in Iowa

This is a list of dams in Iowa that have been removed as physical impediments to free-flowing rivers or streams.

Completed removals

Dam[1] Height Year removed Location Watercourse Watershed
Klondike Dam 12 ft (3.7 m) 2013 Lyon County
43°23′10″N 96°31′18″W / 43.3862°N 96.5216°W / 43.3862; -96.5216 (Klondike Dam)
Big Sioux River Big Sioux River
Quaker Mill Dam[2][3] 22 ft (6.7 m) 2017 Delaware County
42°31′N 91°28′W / 42.51°N 91.47°W / 42.51; -91.47 (Quaker Mill Dam)
Maquoketa River Maquoketa River
Hopkinton Dam 2004 Hopkinton
42°20′15″N 91°15′27″W / 42.3376°N 91.2576°W / 42.3376; -91.2576 (Hopkinton Dam)
Manchester Dam 11 ft (3.4 m) 2014 Manchester
42°28′56″N 91°27′31″W / 42.4821°N 91.4585°W / 42.4821; -91.4585 (Manchester Dam)
Boone Waterworks Dam 3 ft (0.91 m) 2014 Boone County
42°04′37″N 93°56′12″W / 42.077°N 93.9366°W / 42.077; -93.9366 (Boone Waterworks Dam)
Des Moines River Des Moines River
Corn Belt Power Dam 5 ft (1.5 m) Humboldt
42°40′27″N 94°11′24″W / 42.6741°N 94.1901°W / 42.6741; -94.1901 (Corn Belt Power Dam)
Fort Dodge Hydroelectric Dam[4][5] 17 ft (5.2 m) 2020 Webster
42°30′59″N 94°12′01″W / 42.5163°N 94.2003°W / 42.5163; -94.2003 (Fort Dodge Hydroelectric Dam)
Little Dam[4][5] 8 ft (2.4 m) 2019 Fort Dodge
42°29′37″N 94°11′14″W / 42.4937°N 94.1873°W / 42.4937; -94.1873 (Little Dam)
Ice Plant Dam (Zubes Dam) 1 ft (0.30 m) Hamilton
42°28′25″N 93°48′39″W / 42.4737°N 93.8108°W / 42.4737; -93.8108 (Ice Plant Dam (Zubes Dam))
Boone River
Goldfield Dam 4.5 ft (1.4 m) 2014 Wright County
42°44′12″N 93°55′37″W / 42.7367°N 93.927°W / 42.7367; -93.927 (Goldfield Dam)
Plum Creek Dam 2 ft (0.61 m) Kossuth County
43°06′39″N 94°12′26″W / 43.1109°N 94.2072°W / 43.1109; -94.2072 (Plum Creek Dam)
East Fork Des Moines River
Rockford Dam 8 ft (2.4 m) 2014 Rockford
43°03′01″N 92°56′33″W / 43.0503°N 92.9424°W / 43.0503; -92.9424 (Rockford Dam)
Shell Rock River Cedar River
Fourth Street Dam 2 ft (0.61 m) Cerro Gordo County
43°09′19″N 93°11′05″W / 43.1552°N 93.1846°W / 43.1552; -93.1846 (Fourth Street Dam)
Willow Creek
East Lake Park Dam 1 5 ft (1.5 m) 2016 Mason City
43°09′13″N 93°11′10″W / 43.1535°N 93.1862°W / 43.1535; -93.1862 (East Lake Park Dam 1)
East Lake Park Dam 3 5 ft (1.5 m) 2017 Mason City
43°09′18″N 93°11′05″W / 43.1551°N 93.1846°W / 43.1551; -93.1846 (East Lake Park Dam 3)
Vernon Springs Dam 8 ft (2.4 m) 2010 Howard County
43°20′51″N 92°08′16″W / 43.3474°N 92.1378°W / 43.3474; -92.1378 (Vernon Springs Dam)
Turkey River Turkey River
North Washington Mill Dam 8 ft (2.4 m) Chickasaw County
43°07′04″N 92°24′38″W / 43.1179°N 92.4106°W / 43.1179; -92.4106 (North Washington Mill Dam)
Little Wapsipinicon River Wapsipinicon River
Quasqueton Dam 6 ft (1.8 m) 2014 Buchanan County
42°23′34″N 91°45′44″W / 42.3928°N 91.7622°W / 42.3928; -91.7622 (Quasqueton Dam)
Wapsipinicon River

References

  1. ^ Rivers, American (March 3, 2025). "American Rivers Dam Removal Database". Figshare. American Rivers. doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.5234068.v12. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  2. ^ Love, Orlan (February 20, 2017). "Changes upstream for the Maquoketa River". The Gazette. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  3. ^ "Quaker Mill Dam Mitigation". ltleon.com. LT Leon Associates Inc. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Demolition to begin in Fort Dodge on Des Moines River dams". AP News. January 8, 2019. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  5. ^ a b "Fort Dodge Dam Removal: Des Moines River". snyder-associates.com. Snyder & Associates. June 9, 2025. Retrieved August 18, 2025.