Quasqueton, Iowa (KCRG) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has set a goal to remove or modify all low-water dams in the state, but it may be a while before the task is completed.

The dams are harmful to the fish living in these waters and pose a high risk of drowning.

The dam in Palisades-Kepler State Park is one of about 172 low-water dams still standing on major rivers in the state of Iowa.

InvestigateTV found that there is no national inventory of low-water dams and less than a third of states track where they are located.

The state of Iowa has a map of each one.

“It’s making it clear that these dams are a danger and should be avoided,” said Nate Hoogeveen, Iowa DNR’s river program manager.

The Iowa DNR says these dams are “extremely dangerous.”

The water flowing over the top of the wall causes a backflow, which kills an average of 1.7 people each year.

“No matter how much experience you have, never decide to enter that area. Not if you’re an angler coming downstream. Not if you’re a boater coming upstream. It’s just super dangerous,” Hoogeveen said.

The DNR wants to remove or rebuild all low-water dams to make them safer for people and fish in the stream.

The project began in 2008. Since then, 38 dam projects have been completed, one of them in Quasqueton.

“It was just a normal low-water dam, probably with a drop of about 1.5 meters,” said Quasqueton City Council member Orlan Love.

In 2014, the dam on the Wapsipinicon River near Quasqueton was converted into a rock arch rapids.

The added rocks displaced a lot of water and helped eliminate the dangerous backflow. There have been no safety concerns since.

These changes may even open the river to recreational activities.

“Theoretically, you can kayak or canoe over the rapids of the rock arch,” Love said.

The DNR hopes that all low-water dams can be removed or rebuilt like the one at Quasqueton.

“This is a career goal for me,” Hoogeveen said. “And for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. I’m sure it will continue long after I’m gone.”

Hoogeveen said it could take a century to finish them all.

“If we continue like this, it will probably take a century, to be honest,” Hoogeveen said. “That depends in part on whether the communities are prepared for it.”

All rights reserved.