Big Wyacondah Watershed Site 45 dam
Big Wyacondah Watershed Site 45
Big Wyacondah Watershed Site 45 is a vital water resource in Iowa, owned and regulated by the local government with oversight from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The dam, completed in 1964, serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock, and small fish pond management, as well as flood risk reduction. Located in Davis County, Iowa, near the town of Arbele, the dam is situated on the TR-South Wyacondah River and has a low hazard potential with a moderate risk assessment rating.
Managed by the USDA NRCS, the Big Wyacondah Watershed Site 45 dam stands at a height of 21 feet, with a length of 477 feet and a storage capacity of 159 acre-feet. The dam is primarily constructed of earth with a soil foundation, serving as a crucial infrastructure for water management in the region. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is subject to state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement to ensure its safety and functionality for the surrounding community.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Big Wyacondah Watershed Site 45 to be a fascinating case study in sustainable water management. With its diverse purposes, regulatory oversight, and risk assessment, this dam exemplifies the intricate balance between human development and environmental stewardship in maintaining critical water resources for multiple uses in the region. The site's location on the TR-South Wyacondah River adds to its significance as a key component of the local watershed, highlighting the importance of effective dam infrastructure for water conservation and flood risk reduction 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 Big Wyacondah Watershed Site 45 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Fox River At Bloomfield | 7 cfs | → |
| Chariton River Near Moulton | 1,030 cfs | → |
| Chariton River At Livonia | 45 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River At Ottumwa | 21,400 cfs | → |
| Chariton River Near Rathbun | 412 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River At Keosauqua | 22,200 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Big Wyacondah Watershed Site 45.
Boat launches
- Cliffland Road Wapello County
- Us 136 Schuyler County
- Jefferson Street Viaduct Ottumwa
- Isthmus Place Appanoose County
- 200th Avenue Appanoose County
- Lake Showme Drive Scotland County
Track Big Wyacondah Watershed Site 45 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 Big Wyacondah Watershed Site 45
Where does the data for Big Wyacondah Watershed Site 45 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 Big Wyacondah Watershed Site 45.