English Bench Watershed Site 4 dam
English Bench Watershed Site 4
English Bench Watershed Site 4 in Allamakee, Iowa, is a vital water management site designed by the USDA NRCS to serve multiple purposes such as fire protection, stock watering, and small fish pond creation, as well as flood risk reduction. Completed in 1969, this earth dam stands at a height of 34 feet with a length of 424 feet, providing a storage capacity of 81 acre-feet and covering a surface area of 5 acres. Situated along the TR-Upper Iowa River, this site is regulated by the Iowa DNR and falls under the jurisdiction of the state for permitting, inspection, and enforcement.
With a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating, English Bench Watershed Site 4 is a crucial infrastructure contributing to water resource management in the region. The dam's condition is currently not rated, but it is regularly inspected by state authorities to ensure its structural integrity and functionality. Located in the city of Mississippi River, this site plays a significant role in water conservation, flood control, and emergency preparedness efforts in the area.
Owned and operated by the local government, English Bench Watershed Site 4 is a key component of the St. Paul District's water management infrastructure. With its uncontrolled spillway type and soil foundation, this dam provides essential water storage and discharge regulation capabilities to protect downstream areas from flooding and support agricultural and ecological needs in the region. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the importance of such watershed sites is crucial for sustainable water management practices and conservation efforts.
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 English Bench Watershed Site 4 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Upper Iowa River Near Dorchester | 199 cfs | → |
| Upper Iowa River At Decorah | 521 cfs | → |
| South Fork Root River Near Houston | 171 cfs | → |
| Upper Iowa River At Bluffton | 344 cfs | → |
| Root River Near Houston | 881 cfs | → |
| Yellow River At Ion | 314 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near English Bench Watershed Site 4.
Boat launches
- Lycurgus Road Allamakee County
- Great River Rd Allamakee County
- Voyageur Highway Houston County
- Army Road Boat Landing
- Millstone Landing Houston County
- Mississippi River -- Blackhawk Upper Access (Near Desoto)
Campgrounds
- Highland General Store & Campground
- Blackhawk Park - Desoto
- Blackhawk Park Campground
- Blackhawk County Park
- Trollskogen City Park
- Waukon City Park Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- 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
- Western Boundary Of Effigy Mounds National Monument To Boundary Of Effigy Mounds National Monument
- The Minnesota-Iowa State Border To Ends Near The Town Of Bluffton, Iowa
- The Big Green River To The River's Mouth At The Mississippi River
Track English Bench Watershed Site 4 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 English Bench Watershed Site 4
Where does the data for English Bench Watershed Site 4 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 English Bench Watershed Site 4.