Pleasant Dam dam
Pleasant Dam
Pleasant Dam, located in Lucas, Iowa, is a privately-owned earth dam completed in 1969 for fire protection, stock, and small fish pond purposes. The dam stands at a height of 43 feet with a length of 494 feet, providing a storage capacity of 210 acre-feet. Situated on the TR-WHITE BREAST CREEK, the dam is regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and undergoes state permitting, inspection, and enforcement to ensure safety and compliance.
With a hazard potential rated as low and a moderate risk level, Pleasant Dam has not been assessed for condition but is currently considered not rated. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and a drainage area of 0.24 square miles, serving as a vital water resource for the local area. Although last inspected in 1977, the dam remains an essential structure for water management and conservation in the region, showcasing the importance of maintaining and monitoring such infrastructure for climate resilience and sustainability.
Despite its age, Pleasant Dam continues to play a crucial role in water storage and management, with a primary focus on fire protection and stock support. With its moderate risk assessment, there is a need for regular monitoring and potential updates to ensure the dam's continued functionality and safety. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the significance of structures like Pleasant Dam highlights the importance of sustainable water practices and infrastructure maintenance to adapt to changing environmental conditions and protect our communities 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 Pleasant Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Thompson River At Davis City | 120 cfs | → |
| Chariton River Near Chariton | 4 cfs | → |
| South River Near Ackworth | 51 cfs | → |
| Middle River Near Indianola | 206 cfs | → |
| White Breast Creek Near Dallas | 26 cfs | → |
| North River Near Norwalk | 200 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pleasant Dam.
Boat launches
- Us 34 Clarke County
- Pershing Street Warren County
- 118th Avenue Warren County
- Decatur County
- Red Haw Nature Trail Lucas County
Track Pleasant 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 Pleasant Dam
Where does the data for Pleasant 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 Pleasant Dam.