Expect Temporary Lower Des Moines River Levels as Crews Remove Flashboards at Center St. Dam

Des Moines, Iowa - Thursday, November 13, 2025 - Water levels will be noticeably lower on the Des Moines River starting on Monday, November 17.

The City of Des Moines is scheduled to remove flashboards from the Center Street Dam Tuesday, November 18, beginning at 7:30 a.m., weather permitting.

Starting on Monday, November 17, the outflow at the Saylorville Reservoir dam will be adjusted so that City staff can walk on the Center Street Dam to remove the flashboards. After the removal is complete, the outflow at Saylorville Reservoir Dam will be adjusted to fill up and elevate the water level back to normal levels.

Boaters on the Des Moines River and at Birdland Marina should be prepared for lower water levels and how that may affect their activities. Lower river levels are expected to last for 24-36 hours.

The flashboards at the Center Street Dam are removed to mitigate flood risk upstream. The flashboards will be reinstalled when:

• The outflow at Saylorville Reservoir is 4,000 CFS (cubic foot per second) or less, and
• Saylorville Reservoir is at normal pool elevation, so inflow does not exceed outflow, and
• The 2nd Avenue river gauge is at 14.5' or below.

In case of inclement weather, the process will be moved to Wednesday, November 19.

Contact
Ally MacLean
Communications Specialist II, City Manager's Office
(515) 689-8819
[email protected]

About the City of Des Moines
The City of Des Moines is Iowa's capital, and our 17 departments serve more than 214,000 residents and 46 neighborhood associations. Des Moines is a leader in sustainability and provides its residents with vibrant neighborhoods, an active downtown, and abundant leisure opportunities.

Des Moines continuously improves neighborhoods, public safety, and quality of life by offering exceptional city services and reliable infrastructure while fostering an involved and compassionate community for all who visit and live there. Visit DSM.city, Facebook, and X for more information.