Mud, dead fish replace lake after Iowa dam break

This story struck me when I read it. This lake was 9 miles in length (Deep Creek Lake is 7 miles) and both lakes were built in the mid 1920’s for hydro-electric power. Deep Creek is not fed by one main river, but many small streams. Still, the story is captivating to read:

By MICHAEL J. CRUMB, Associated Press Writer

Mon Jul 26, 5:33 pm ET

DES MOINES, Iowa – Acres of mud strewn with dead fish greeted hundreds of eastern Iowa residents Monday after a weekend dam break left their lakefront properties overlooking little more than a small stream.

The Lake Delhi dam in Delaware County gave way under the rapidly rising Maquoketa River on Saturday, decimating the nine-mile-long lake and adjacent property values.

“The water’s gone, dead fish are laying there on the bottom — it’s a pretty nasty looking scene,” said Irv Janey of Marion, who owns a condominium on Lake Delhi. “It was a beautiful recreation area and to see it drained, it just makes you sick.”

Heavy rains last week forced the river to unprecedented levels, causing earthen portions of the dam to collapse and sending a torrent of water rushing downstream. The concrete section of the dam remained intact, but the swollen river damaged about half the 1,000 homes and cabins above it. The lake quickly emptied…

Read the rest here.

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