Nora Springs Low Head Dam, located on the Shell Rock River in Floyd County, Iowa, was completed in 1895 and serves primarily for recreational purposes. The dam, with a height of 12 feet and a length of 600 feet, creates a reservoir with a storage capacity of 150 acre-feet and a surface area of 22 acres. Despite its age, the dam is rated as having a low hazard potential and is currently not rated for its condition.

Owned by the local government, the Nora Springs Low Head Dam is regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place. The dam is primarily constructed of concrete with multi-arch and stone cores, built on a rock foundation. While the dam has not been modified in recent years and lacks certain emergency preparedness measures, its risk assessment and management remain unspecified.

Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will be intrigued by the historical significance and engineering design of Nora Springs Low Head Dam, as well as its potential impact on the local ecosystem and surrounding community. With its low hazard potential and state regulation, the dam presents an interesting case study for assessing the balance between recreational use and environmental conservation in water resource management.