River/Stream: Des Moines River
Location: just below confluence of Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers in Des Moines, Polk County
Latitude: 41.5795094420321
Longitude: -93.6116664166976
Built: 1938
Owner: City of Des Moines
Height: 5 ft.
Length: 440ft.
Hazards: drowning, urban, portage, varying, visibility
Warning Signs: dam warning signs on every arch - both Scott Ave. and River Street pedestrian bridges. Also, every arch of the River Street pedestrian bridge has rescue lines down to the river attached to orange buoys. Additional signs warn bridge pedestrians of dam danger.
Comments: the dam is not visible in aerial photographs (e.g. Google maps) because it is obscured by the bridge.
Portage Options: Dangerous pedestrian walk with "drain" on river left, inundated during high water
Documented Fatalitites: 3
- August 10, 2002 - kayaker Steven Nourse
- July 4, 2007 - swimmer Franco Ventura
- June 15, 1952, Mary Arzetta Jones, wading
Close Calls:
