Rock Creek Dam dam
Rock Creek Dam
Rock Creek Dam, located in Lynnville, Iowa, is a state-regulated structure designed by Bauer Engineering Inc. The dam, situated on Rock Creek, serves primarily for recreational purposes and boasts an earth dam type with a height of 33 feet and a length of 1500 feet. With a storage capacity of 13,700 acre-feet and a surface area of 640 acres, Rock Creek Dam provides essential water resources for the surrounding area while offering recreational opportunities for visitors.
Despite its significant hazard potential, Rock Creek Dam has been assessed as satisfactory in condition as of May 2016. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway type with a width of 200 feet, ensuring efficient water release during periods of high flow. Managed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the dam undergoes regular inspections every five years to uphold safety standards and mitigate potential risks. With a moderate risk assessment rating, Rock Creek Dam remains a crucial infrastructure for water resource management and climate resilience in Jasper County.
In the event of an emergency, the dam's emergency action plan (EAP) status and preparedness remain unspecified, highlighting the importance of ongoing risk management measures. With no associated federal agency involvement, Rock Creek Dam showcases the state's commitment to regulating and maintaining essential water infrastructure for both recreational and environmental purposes. As a key component of the local watershed, Rock Creek Dam stands as a testament to effective water resource management in Iowa's diverse landscape.
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 Rock Creek Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Timber Creek Near Marshalltown | 94 cfs | → |
| South Skunk River At Colfax | 631 cfs | → |
| Richland Creek Near Haven | 38 cfs | → |
| Iowa River At Marshalltown | 815 cfs | → |
| Indian Creek Near Mingo | 211 cfs | → |
| Walnut Creek Near Hartwick | 35 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rock Creek Dam.
Boat launches
- Jade Street Jasper County
- Rock Creek East Street Jasper County
- C Avenue Tama County
- Atv Trail Tama
- P Avenue Tama County
- Arney Avenue Marshall County
Campgrounds
- Rock Creek State Park
- Kellogg Rv Park
- Mariposa Co Park
- Diamond Lake County Park
- Robertson Access
- Riverview Park - Marshalltown
More reservoirs
Track Rock Creek 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 Rock Creek Dam
Where does the data for Rock Creek 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 Rock Creek Dam.