Tom Steele Dam dam
Tom Steele Dam
Tom Steele Dam, also known as Steele Dam, is a private-owned structure located in Rock Island, Illinois, near the city of Buffalo, IA. Built in 2005 by designer Sam Doak, this earth dam serves primarily for recreation purposes along the TRIB TURKEY HOLLOW CREEK, offering a surface area of 19.3 acres for water enthusiasts to enjoy. With a height of 58.5 feet and a length of 580 feet, the dam provides a storage capacity of 610 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 234 acre-feet.
Managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the dam has a high hazard potential due to its uncontrolled spillway type and a maximum discharge rate of 1113 cubic feet per second. While the condition assessment of the dam is currently not available, inspections are conducted annually to ensure its safety and regulatory compliance. Despite its moderate risk assessment, the dam does not have an Emergency Action Plan in place, highlighting the importance of ongoing risk management measures to mitigate potential hazards and protect the surrounding community.
As a popular recreational spot in the area, Tom Steele Dam offers a tranquil setting for water resource and climate enthusiasts to appreciate the beauty of nature while also raising awareness about the importance of proper dam maintenance and emergency preparedness. With its picturesque location and significant role in water management, the dam serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between human enjoyment and environmental stewardship in safeguarding our valuable water resources for future generations.
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 Tom Steele Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mill Creek At Milan | 26 cfs | → |
| Duck Creek At 110th Ave At Davenport | 10 cfs | → |
| Duck Creek At Dc Golf Course At Davenport | 63 cfs | → |
| Crow Creek At Bettendorf | 5 cfs | → |
| Edwards River Near Orion | 66 cfs | → |
| Edwards River Near New Boston | 210 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Tom Steele Dam.
Boat launches
- Big Island Parkway Rock Island
- South Concord Street 2490, Davenport
- George Skafidas Parkway Rock Island
- Riverfront Trail Davenport
- I 280;Us 61 Davenport
- 110th Avenue Buffalo
Track Tom Steele 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 Tom Steele Dam
Where does the data for Tom Steele 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 High 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 Tom Steele Dam.