Lake Hendricks Dam dam
Lake Hendricks Dam
Lake Hendricks Dam, located in Riceville, Iowa, is a local government-owned structure that serves primarily for recreation purposes. Built in 1960 by WALLACE & HOLLAND, this earth dam stands at a height of 30 feet and spans a length of 2375 feet, holding a storage capacity of 960 acre-feet. The dam is situated on the TR-WAPSIPINICON RIVER and is regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, ensuring state permitting, inspection, and enforcement to maintain its safety and functionality.
With a significant hazard potential and fair condition assessment, Lake Hendricks Dam poses a moderate risk level, prompting a five-year inspection frequency to monitor its structural integrity. Despite its uncontrolled spillway type and soil foundation, the dam continues to provide a surface area of 50 acres for recreational activities and a normal storage capacity of 500 acre-feet. The dam's location in Howard County, Iowa, makes it a vital component of the local water resource management system, contributing to the overall environmental sustainability and climate resilience of the region.
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 Lake Hendricks Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar River At Charles City | 531 cfs | → |
| Little Cedar River Near Ionia | 232 cfs | → |
| Cedar River Near Austin | 158 cfs | → |
| Turkey River At Spillville | 80 cfs | → |
| Upper Iowa River At Bluffton | 241 cfs | → |
| Winnebago River At Mason City | 338 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Hendricks Dam.
Boat launches
- Wapsi Great Western Line Mitchell County
- Howard County
- Miller Street Howard County
- Valley Avenue Howard County
- Oakland Place Northeast Austin
Campgrounds
- Lake Hendricks Park Campground
- Pinicon Alders Wildlife Area
- Pioneer County Park
- Lake Louise State Park
- Riverview Group Camp
- Red Oak Group Camp
Fishing spots
Track Lake Hendricks 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 Lake Hendricks Dam
Where does the data for Lake Hendricks 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 Significant 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 Lake Hendricks Dam.