Lake Red Rock (Des Moines River)

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Lake Red Rock
Lake Red Rock - (Army Corps of Engineers)
(Army Corps of Engineers)
Location Marion County, Iowa
Coordinates 41°24′19″N, 93°02′49″WCoordinates: 41°24′19″N, 93°02′49″W
Lake type reservoir
Primary inflows Des Moines River
Primary outflows Des Moines River
Catchment area 12,000 sq mi (31,080 km²)
Basin countries United States
Max. length 11 mi (18 km)
Surface area 15,520 acres (62.81 km²)
max: 70,000 acres (283.28 km²)
Surface elevation 742 ft (226 m)
USGS topographical map of Lake Red Rock, showing Red Rock Dam, and left-center, the mouth of White Breast Creek
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)
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 55 miles southeast of the city of Des Moines, Iowa. 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.

Tremendous recreational development dominates the lakeshore, with camping, boating and fishing being the three biggest items, but trails are present also. The state maintains Elk Rock State Park on both sides of the lake while Roberts Creek Park is 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", where one can float down the Des Moines River from the southwest corner of Polk County to the lake up to Red Rock Dam.

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

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