Photo By Samantha Heilig | USACE Rock Island District’s Red Rock Dam, near Knoxville, Iowa, is undergoing...... read more read more
USACE Rock Island District’s Red Rock Dam, near Knoxville, Iowa, is undergoing significant rehabilitation of its Tainter and sluice gates to ensure the long-term reliability of the structure. The project, which began in October 2022, is expected to be completed this fall.
Red Rock Dam plays a crucial role in flood control for the Des Moines River Valley, as well as providing recreational opportunities and a reliable water supply for the region. Maintaining its operational capacity is a key component of that effort.
The work includes repairs to three of the dam’s five large Tainter gates. Crews are removing rust and corrosion, repairing welds, and applying a new coat of paint. All five Tainter gates are receiving new wire ropes – essential for raising and lowering the gates – as part of a scheduled 15-year replacement cycle. Side seals and limit switches on all five gates are also being replaced.
“This work is essential to maintaining the integrity and functionality of Red Rock Dam,” said Lake Manager Hugh Howe. “Rust and corrosion had begun to affect the Tainter gates, wire ropes and related components, necessitating these repairs. Proactive maintenance like this extends the lifespan of the dam and prevents more costly repairs down the road.”
Alongside the Tainter gate work, two of the dam’s 14 smaller sluice gates are also being rehabilitated. These 5-foot-by-9-foot gates control water flow through Red Rock Dam, with a combined capacity of up to 38,000 cubic feet per second.
The project focuses on replacing worn components on the gates, including gate leaf wearable parts, bonnet cover seals, and chatter strips – elements critical for a watertight seal. This is the first time many of these components have been replaced on the sluice gates since the dam’s construction.
Howe said accessing the gates for repairs hasn’t been easy. A temporary bulkhead was installed upstream to isolate the Tainter gates from the lake, creating a dry workspace.
“Increased lake levels and a need to maintain a conservation pool over time have necessitated the bulkhead, which wasn’t part of the dam’s original design,” said Howe.
Workers then used swing stages and scaffolding to reach all areas of the gates. Sluice gate repairs required a different approach: being disassembled inside the dam’s control structure and hoisted to the roadway via a narrow hatch, requiring temporary full road closures.
“We understand that the road closures have caused some inconvenience, but they are necessary to safely complete this important work,” Howe explained. “We’ve worked to minimize disruptions and appreciate the public’s patience.”
It’s the first time many of the sluice gate’s wearable features have been replaced, and the Tainter gates haven’t been repainted since the 1990s.
“The rehabilitation of Red Rock Dam’s gates is a significant investment in the future of this vital infrastructure, ensuring its continued ability to provide flood control, recreation and water supply benefits to the region,” Howe said.
| Date Taken: | 07.16.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 07.17.2025 07:01 |
| Story ID: | 542927 |
| Location: | KNOXVILLE, IOWA, US |
| Web Views: | 16 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Red Rock Dam Undergoing Critical Gate Rehabilitation, by Samantha Heilig, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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