Nelson Dam dam
Nelson Dam
Nelson Dam, located in Des Moines, Iowa, is a privately owned structure designed by USDA NRCS and completed in 1966. With a height of 24 feet and a length of 362 feet, this earth dam serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock management, and as a small fish pond. The dam has a storage capacity of 50 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 4 acres, with a drainage area of 0.3 square miles.
Managed by the Iowa DNR, Nelson Dam is classified as having a low hazard potential and a moderate risk rating. The spillway type is uncontrolled, with no outlet gates or associated structures. While the condition assessment is currently not rated, the dam is inspected regularly by the state and meets all regulatory requirements. Situated on the TR-Little Flint River near the Mississippi River, Nelson Dam plays a crucial role in the local water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region.
Overall, Nelson Dam stands as a vital infrastructure for water resource management in Des Moines, Iowa. Its strategic location and design by USDA NRCS ensure that it serves its purposes effectively while maintaining safety standards. With its low hazard potential and moderate risk rating, the dam remains a key component of the region's water infrastructure, contributing to fire protection, livestock management, and small fish pond activities.
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 Nelson Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Skunk River At Augusta | 9,200 cfs | → |
| Big Creek Near Mt. Pleasant | 84 cfs | → |
| Cedar Creek Near Oakland Mills | 1,110 cfs | → |
| Iowa River At Wapello | 14,600 cfs | → |
| Henderson Creek Near Oquawka | 277 cfs | → |
| Pope Creek Near Keithsburg | 98 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Nelson Dam.
Boat launches
- High Street Burlington
- Des Moines County
- Schuyler Street Oquawka
- Diversion Channel Des Moines County
- Putney's Landing Access Road Henderson County
- 20th Street 1000, Louisa County
Campgrounds
- Geode State Park Campground
- Geode State Park
- Upper Augusta Skunk River Access
- Big Hollow Creek Park
- Grays Landing
- Welter Recreation Park
More reservoirs
Track Nelson 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 Nelson Dam
Where does the data for Nelson 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 Nelson Dam.