Leutzinger-Lowe Watershed Site M-1 dam
Leutzinger-Lowe Watershed Site M-1
Leutzinger-Lowe Watershed Site M-1 is a key flood risk reduction structure located in Muscatine, Iowa. Built in 1971 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at 46 feet high and spans 568 feet in length, providing crucial flood protection for the surrounding area along the TR-Muscatine Slough. With a storage capacity of 1550 acre-feet and a drainage area of 5.2 square miles, this dam plays a vital role in managing water flow and minimizing flood damage in the region.
Managed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Leutzinger-Lowe Watershed Site M-1 is subject to state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement to ensure its structural integrity and effectiveness in flood risk reduction. Its condition assessment in June 2018 deemed it satisfactory, with a significant hazard potential. Despite its moderate risk level, the dam continues to serve as a critical infrastructure for water resource management in the area, with a spillway width of 4 feet for controlled water release during high-flow events.
With its strategic location and design, Leutzinger-Lowe Watershed Site M-1 stands as a testament to effective flood risk reduction efforts in Iowa. As climate change continues to impact weather patterns and increase the frequency of extreme weather events, this dam plays a crucial role in safeguarding the community of Luthern Home and surrounding areas from potential flooding. Its management and maintenance are essential to ensuring the safety and resilience of the region's water resources in the face of a changing climate.
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 Leutzinger-Lowe Watershed Site M-1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar River Near Conesville | 6,160 cfs | → |
| Iowa River At Wapello | 10,200 cfs | → |
| Edwards River Near New Boston | 264 cfs | → |
| Iowa River Near Lone Tree | 3,230 cfs | → |
| Hoover Crk At Hoover Nat.Hist.Site West Branch | 2 cfs | → |
| Pope Creek Near Keithsburg | 76 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Leutzinger-Lowe Watershed Site M-1.
Boat launches
- Muscatine County
- 120th Street Louisa County
- Public Boat Ramp Rock Island County
- F Avenue 9777, Louisa County
- 78th Street Louisa County
Track Leutzinger-Lowe Watershed Site M-1 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 Leutzinger-Lowe Watershed Site M-1
Where does the data for Leutzinger-Lowe Watershed Site M-1 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 Leutzinger-Lowe Watershed Site M-1.