River/Stream: Iowa River
Built: 1932
Owner: City of Alden
Height: 10 feet
Length: 208 feet
Hazards: drowning, usage, visibility, height
Portage: On the north side of the river (river left), a canoe portage allows canoers to get out, go around the dam and get back in below the dam.
Comments:
Fatalities 2
- April 29, 2007 - canoeists Drew Goodknight & Jon Hill
Incident Report:
Authorities identified the victims as Jonathan Hill, 26, and Drew Goodknight, 22, both of Iowa Falls. A third passenger in the boat, Levi Wendland, 26, also of Iowa Falls, escaped serious injury but was reportedly taken to Ellsworth Municipal Hospital in Iowa Falls.
The incident happened shortly before 6 p.m. when the three were paddling on the Iowa River. After reaching the dam at Alden, they carried their canoe around and below the dam, but the vessel was apparently sucked into the churning water.
None of the three passengers were wearing life jackets at the time of the incident.