Hess Dam dam
Hess Dam
Hess Dam, located in Worthington, Iowa, was completed in 1970 and serves multiple purposes including fire protection and maintaining a small fish pond. Managed by a private owner, the dam stands at 26 feet tall and spans 500 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 72 acre-feet. It is regulated by the Iowa DNR and undergoes regular inspections, with a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating.
The dam, designed by USDA NRCS, is primarily made of earth and founded on soil. It is situated on the TR-Durion Branch river and is owned by a private entity. While it does not have a controlled spillway, the dam has a normal storage capacity of 33 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 5 acres. The risk assessment for the dam is considered moderate, with no official condition rating provided.
Overall, Hess Dam plays a crucial role in water resource management and contributes to the local ecosystem in Worthington, Iowa. With its multifunctional purposes and regulated operations, the dam provides essential services while mitigating potential risks associated with its structure. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, this dam serves as a focal point for understanding the intersection of human infrastructure with natural environments.
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 Hess Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Maquoketa River At Manchester | 525 cfs | → |
| Turkey River At Garber | 1,590 cfs | → |
| Wapsipinicon River Near Anamosa | 2,920 cfs | → |
| Grant River At Burton | 288 cfs | → |
| Volga River At Littleport | 476 cfs | → |
| North Fork Maquoketa River Near Fulton | 420 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hess Dam.
Boat launches
- Us 20 Manchester
- Chavenelle Road Dubuque
- Jack Oak Slough -- Jack Oak Road Boat Ramp
- Mississippi River -- Cassville Public Access
- Mississippi River -- Bertom Lake -- Access
- Mississippi River -- Mccartney Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- New Wine Park Campground
- New Wine County Park
- Silver Lake County Park
- Brankston County Park Campground
- Bankston Park
- Fillmore Recreation Area Campground
Fishing spots
Track Hess 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 Hess Dam
Where does the data for Hess 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 Hess Dam.