Buckmaster dam
Buckmaster
Buckmaster is a privately-owned earth dam located in Allamakee, Iowa, near the Mississippi River. Built in 1967 by the USDA NRCS, the dam's primary purpose is grade stabilization, with a height of 35 feet and a length of 411 feet. The dam has a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, with uncontrolled spillways and outlet gates.
The dam has a storage capacity of 27 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 5 acres, serving a drainage area of 0.75 square miles. Despite its age, the condition assessment of Buckmaster is not available, with no recent inspection data provided. The dam is not under the jurisdiction of any state regulatory agency and does not have specific enforcement or inspection protocols in place.
As an important structure for managing water resources in the area, Buckmaster plays a crucial role in grade stabilization and flood control along the Tr- Mississippi River. With its unique design by the USDA NRCS and its location in a critical watershed, Buckmaster serves as a valuable asset for water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in understanding and protecting the region's hydrological infrastructure.
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 Buckmaster -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow River At Ion | 198 cfs | → |
| Kickapoo River At Steuben | 623 cfs | → |
| Bloody Run Creek Near Marquette | 24 cfs | → |
| Upper Iowa River Near Dorchester | 613 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Mcgregor | 21,700 cfs | → |
| Kickapoo River At La Farge | 227 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Buckmaster.
Boat launches
- Mississippi River -- Ferryville Landing
- Mississippi River -- Big Slough Landing
- Winneshiek Lake - Mississippi River -- Cold Springs Landing
- Mississippi River -- Winneshiek Slough Landing
- Mississippi River -- Lynxville Landing
- Winfield Road Harpers Ferry
Campgrounds
- Sugar Creek City Campground
- Sugar Ceek Park Campground
- Blackhawk Park - Desoto
- Blackhawk Park Campground
- Blackhawk County Park
- Camp Terry Hennesy
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Western Boundary Of Effigy Mounds National Monument To Boundary Of Effigy Mounds National Monument
- The Big Green River To The River's Mouth At The Mississippi River
- 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
- Lone Rock To The Confluence Of The Green And Wisconsin Rivers
- The Minnesota-Iowa State Border To Ends Near The Town Of Bluffton, Iowa
Track Buckmaster 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 Buckmaster
Where does the data for Buckmaster 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 Buckmaster.