Welch Dam dam
Welch Dam
Welch Dam, located in Gifford, Iowa, is a privately owned structure designed by the USDA NRCS with a primary purpose of fire protection, stock, or small fish pond. Completed in 1972, this earth dam stands at a height of 35 feet and spans 268 feet in length, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 100 acre-feet. While its hazard potential is rated as low and its condition assessment is not yet rated, the dam is regulated by the Iowa DNR and undergoes regular state inspection, permitting, and enforcement.
The dam's location on TR-Tipton Creek in Hardin County, Iowa, makes it a vital resource for water management and recreation in the area. Its surface area covers 7 acres, and it serves a drainage area of 0.4 square miles. With a normal storage capacity of 71 acre-feet, Welch Dam provides crucial water supply for fire protection as well as opportunities for stock watering and recreational activities. Despite its moderate risk level and lack of an Emergency Action Plan assessment, the dam remains an essential part of the local water infrastructure.
Managed by a private owner, Welch Dam plays a significant role in the water resource management of the region. Its construction by the Natural Resources Conservation Service reflects a commitment to sustainable water use and conservation. With its low hazard potential and moderate risk level, the dam serves as a reliable source of water for various purposes while also offering recreational benefits to the community. As climate change continues to impact water resources, structures like Welch Dam will be crucial in maintaining water security and resilience in the face of evolving environmental challenges.
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 Welch Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Fork Iowa River Ne Of New Providence | 163 cfs | → |
| Iowa River At Marshalltown | 768 cfs | → |
| South Skunk River Near Ames | 241 cfs | → |
| Timber Creek Near Marshalltown | 88 cfs | → |
| South Skunk River Below Squaw Creek Near Ames | 424 cfs | → |
| Squaw Creek At Ames | 148 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Welch Dam.
Boat launches
- 1st Street Eldora
- Eastwood Drive Eldora
- County Road S56 Hardin County
- River Street 126, Iowa Falls
- Marsh Avenue Marshall County
- Little Wall Lake South Access Hamilton County
Campgrounds
- Grammer Grove Wildlife Area
- Stoehr Fishing Area
- Timmons Grove County Park
- Wolf Creek Rec Area
- Riverview Park - Marshalltown
- Union Grove State Park
More reservoirs
Track Welch 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 Welch Dam
Where does the data for Welch 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 Welch Dam.