Mass Dam dam
Mass Dam
Located in Mills County, Iowa, Mass Dam is a privately owned structure designed by the USDA NRCS and completed in 1959. This earth-type dam stands at a height of 28 feet and spans 307 feet, with a storage capacity of 41 acre-feet. Its primary purpose is for fire protection, stock, or as a small fish pond, serving the local community of Silver City. The dam is state-regulated and falls under the jurisdiction of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, with permitting, inspection, and enforcement processes in place.
With a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating, Mass Dam has not been rated for its condition. It features an uncontrolled spillway type and has a drainage area of 0.29 square miles. The dam has not been modified in recent years and has not undergone a condition assessment. While emergency action plans and risk management measures are not specified, the dam's risk level is considered moderate. Although it is not owned or funded by federal agencies, it has received design support from the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Despite its relatively small size, Mass Dam plays a crucial role in local water resource management and provides essential services to the community. With its strategic location on the TR-Silver Creek, the dam contributes to fire protection, livestock watering, and recreational fishing opportunities. As climate change continues to impact water resources, structures like Mass Dam will be increasingly vital for ensuring sustainable water use and conservation in the future.
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 Mass Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri River At Omaha | 28,900 cfs | → |
| West Nishnabotna River At Hancock | 310 cfs | → |
| West Nishnabotna River At Randolph | 684 cfs | → |
| East Nishnabotna River At Red Oak | 574 cfs | → |
| Big Papillion Cr | 39 cfs | → |
| East Nishnabotna River Near Atlantic | 214 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mass Dam.
Boat launches
- Mills County
- Us 34;Us 275 Mills County
- I 29;Us 275 Mills County
- Lake Manawa State Park
- Catfish Rd Council Bluffs
- Haworth River Park
Track Mass 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 Mass Dam
Where does the data for Mass 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 Mass Dam.