Fenchel Dam dam
Fenchel Dam
Fenchel Dam, located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was completed in 1970 and is primarily used for fire protection, stock, or as a small fish pond. It is a private dam owned by a private entity and is regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The dam is classified as an earth type with a height of 26 feet and a length of 268 feet, creating a storage capacity of 79 acre-feet and covering a surface area of 4.3 acres. Despite having a low hazard potential and being in a moderate risk category, the dam's condition is currently not rated.
The dam sits on the TR-OTTER CREEK, within the Linn County of Iowa, and is designed by the USDA NRCS. It is under the jurisdiction of the state and is subject to permitting, inspection, and enforcement by state regulatory agencies. The dam has an uncontrolled spillway type with no outlet gates or associated locks. The risk management measures, emergency action plan, and inundation maps for the dam are either not prepared or not up to date. With its strategic location and purpose, Fenchel Dam plays a crucial role in water resource management and climate adaptation efforts in 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 Fenchel Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar River At Cedar Rapids | 6,580 cfs | → |
| Wapsipinicon River Near Anamosa | 2,920 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek Near Oxford | 60 cfs | → |
| Iowa River Below Coralville Dam Nr Coralville | 3,830 cfs | → |
| Iowa River At Marengo | 3,880 cfs | → |
| Rapid Creek Near Iowa City | 11 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Fenchel Dam.
Boat launches
- Otter View Road Linn County
- J Avenue Northeast 201, Cedar Rapids
- Mcclintock Road Linn County
- Strawn Road Linn County
- Wakpicada Trail Linn County
Campgrounds
- Morgan Creek County Park
- Pleasant Creek State Rec Area
- Squaw Creek County Park
- Pleasant Creek State Park Campground
- Wakpicada Natural Area
- Wildcat Bluff County Park
Fishing spots
Track Fenchel 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 Fenchel Dam
Where does the data for Fenchel 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 Fenchel Dam.