What Fort Dodge residents knew as the Little Dam has been gone from the Des Moines River for nearly three years, and some features intended to bring people closer to the water will be constructed near where it once stood.

Jetties that will protrude into the water may well be the most distinctive of those features.

Chad Schaeffer, the city’s chief development officer, told the City Council Monday that six jetties, three on each side of the river, are planned. He said people will be able to walk out onto the jetties to fish or even just look at the water.

He said that if bid prices come in too high, two of the planned jetties could be scrapped.

Near the spots on each side of the river where the abutments for the dam once stood, plazas will be created. These plazas will be places where people could have a picnic, according to Schaeffer.

A new parking lot would be built on the west side of the river, with a cul-de-sac where vehicles could turn around.

Some riverbank stabilization work will also be done.

In response to a question from Councilman Quennel McCaleb, Schaeffer replied that all the features would be handicapped accessible.

The city government borrowed $4.2 million via a bond issue to pay for removing the Little Dam and the Hydroelectric Dam. Schaeffer said there is $1.9 million remaining of that money which will be used to pay for these proposed projects in the area where the Little Dam once stood.

The timeline for doing the work was not discussed.

The council, however, started the process by authorizing the city staff to buy some boulders to make the jetties with.

Schaeffer said pieces of field rock measuring three to five feet in diameter and weighing between five and 40 tons each will be needed.

The council authorized the staff to spend up to $350,000 to buy the rock.