Beach Dam dam
Beach Dam
Beach Dam, located in Lee County, Iowa, was completed in 1965 and serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock, and small fish pond. This earth dam stands at a height of 27 feet and has a length of 351 feet, with a storage capacity of 78 acre-feet. The dam is regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and is subject to regular inspection, permitting, and enforcement to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations.
Despite being classified as a low hazard potential structure, Beach Dam poses a moderate risk, according to a risk assessment rating of 3. The dam's condition is currently not rated, and there is no emergency action plan in place. The dam has not been modified in recent years, but it is essential for stakeholders to monitor and manage the associated risks effectively. Beach Dam's location on TR-DEVIL CREEK in Montrose contributes to its importance in managing water resources and mitigating potential climate impacts in the region.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Beach Dam in Iowa a fascinating structure to study, given its multiple uses and the role it plays in water management in the area. As a privately owned dam, it is crucial for the owners to work closely with regulatory authorities to ensure its safety and compliance. With its historical significance and ongoing regulatory oversight, Beach Dam serves as a valuable asset for fire protection, agricultural needs, and ecological preservation in the Lee County 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 Beach Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Skunk River At Augusta | 2,090 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River At St. Francisville | 6,460 cfs | → |
| Cedar Creek Near Oakland Mills | 53 cfs | → |
| Big Creek Near Mt. Pleasant | 6 cfs | → |
| Fox River At Wayland | 42 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River At Keosauqua | 7,090 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Beach Dam.
Track Beach 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 Beach Dam
Where does the data for Beach 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 Beach Dam.