Lake Red Rock (Des Moines River)

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Lake Red Rock
Red Rock Lake Des Moines River.jpg
USA Iowa relief location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Lake Red Rock
Usa edcp relief location map.png
Red pog.svg
Lake Red Rock
Location Marion County,
Flag of Iowa.svg  Iowa,
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Coordinates 41°24′19″N93°02′49″W / 41.40528°N 93.04694°W / 41.40528; -93.04694 Coordinates: 41°24′19″N93°02′49″W / 41.40528°N 93.04694°W / 41.40528; -93.04694
Type reservoir
Primary inflows Des Moines River
Primary outflows Des Moines River
Catchment area 12,000 sq mi (31,080 km2)
Basin  countriesUnited States
Max. length11 mi (18 km)
Surface area15,520 acres (62.81 km2)
max: 70,000 acres (283.28 km2)
Surface elevation742 ft (226 m)
USGS topographical map of Lake Red Rock, showing Red Rock Dam, and left-center, the mouth of White Breast Creek LakeRedRock Iowa.jpg
USGS topographical map of Lake Red Rock, showing Red Rock Dam, and left-center, the mouth of White Breast Creek
Red Rock Dam and Lake Red Rock (Army Corps of Engineers) USACE Red Rock Dam and Lake.jpg
Red Rock Dam and Lake Red Rock (Army Corps of Engineers)

Lake Red Rock, also referred to as Red Rock Reservoir is a reservoir formed by Red Rock Dam on the Des Moines River, about 41 miles southeast of the city of Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. The dam was completed in 1969 as a Flood control project by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, creating the largest lake in Iowa. The lake is essentially confined to Marion County. The damface is a few miles west and south of Pella, and similarly, a few miles northeast of Knoxville.

Contents

Recreation and points of interest

The lake shore has various recreational activities such as camping, hiking, boating and fishing. The state maintains Elk Rock State Park on both sides of the lake while Roberts Creek Park and Cordova Park (location of Cordova Tower) are managed by the Marion County Conservation Board.

The Army Corps of Engineers maintains several campgrounds as well: White Breast Recreation Area, Ivans Recreation Area, Wallashuck Recreation Area, Howell Station Recreation Area, and the North Overlook Recreation Area. There is also a "water trail", known as the Red Rock Water Trail, where one can float down the Des Moines River from the southeast corner of Polk County to the lake and down to Red Rock Dam. Flotilla 4 of the Coast Guard Auxiliary provides boating safety education and free vessel safety checks to boaters in the area. [1]

A major landmark is what is locally called the "Mile Long Bridge", carrying Iowa Highway 14 at its upstream end.

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References

  1. "U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary - District 8WR, Division 33, Flotilla 4, Des Moines, Iowa - Home Page". www.flotilla4.org. Retrieved January 26, 2022.