Christen Dam dam
Christen Dam
Christen Dam, located in Fayette County, Iowa, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1996 for fire protection and as a small fish pond. The dam stands at a height of 26 feet and has a length of 465 feet, with a storage capacity of 52 acre-feet. Situated on the TR-Volga River, the dam serves multiple purposes while also contributing to the local ecosystem.
Managed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Christen Dam is inspected regularly to ensure its safety and functionality. With a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating, the dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the area. Although not currently rated for its condition, the dam remains a key infrastructure for the surrounding community and wildlife.
Climate and water resource enthusiasts would find Christen Dam an interesting case study in sustainable water management and the intersection of human needs with environmental conservation. Its design by the NRCS and state regulation showcase a collaborative effort to balance the benefits of water storage and fire protection with the potential risks associated with dam infrastructure. As the dam continues to serve its purposes, ongoing monitoring and maintenance will be essential to ensure its long-term resilience in the face of changing climate conditions.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Christen Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey River Above French Hollow Cr At Elkader | 868 cfs | → |
| Turkey River Near Eldorado | 379 cfs | → |
| Volga River At Littleport | 203 cfs | → |
| Turkey River At Garber | 960 cfs | → |
| Bloody Run Creek Near Marquette | 25 cfs | → |
| Yellow River At Ion | 193 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Christen Dam.
Boat launches
- Agate Road 10568, Clayton County
- County Highway B64 Fayette County
- Canoe Road Fayette County
- River Street Clermont
- Turkey River Water Trail Elkader
Campgrounds
- Volga River State Recreation Area
- Volga River State Rec Area
- Gilbertson Campground
- Klocks Island Park
- Klocks Island City Park Campground
- Echo Valley Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Western Boundary Of Effigy Mounds National Monument To Boundary Of Effigy Mounds National Monument
- The "Lower" Dam, Near The Confluence Of Coon Creek To Lane's Bridge
- The Town Of Bluffton To The "Lower" Dam, Near The Confluence Of Coon Creek
- The Big Green River To The River's Mouth At The Mississippi River
- The Minnesota-Iowa State Border To Ends Near The Town Of Bluffton, Iowa
Track Christen Dam in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Christen Dam
Where does the data for Christen Dam come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Low hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Christen Dam.