Hickory Hills Recreation Dam dam
Hickory Hills Recreation Dam
Hickory Hills Recreation Dam, located in La Porte City, Iowa, is a local government-owned structure that serves as a recreational hub for water resource and climate enthusiasts. Built in 1970, this earth dam stands at a height of 29 feet and has a length of 1030 feet, providing a surface area of 39.2 acres and a drainage area of 1.27 square miles. With a primary purpose of recreation, the dam offers a storage capacity of 760 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 363 acre-feet, making it a popular destination for outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, and hiking.
Managed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the Hickory Hills Recreation Dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by state authorities to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations. Although it has a low hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment, the dam is subject to moderate risk, highlighting the importance of ongoing risk assessment and management measures. With its uncontrolled spillway type and proximity to Wolf Creek, the dam provides not only recreational opportunities but also serves as a vital component of the local ecosystem, demonstrating the interconnectedness of water resources and climate resilience in the region.
As a focal point for water-based activities and environmental stewardship, the Hickory Hills Recreation Dam embodies the balance between human recreation and natural preservation. With its scenic location, diverse wildlife, and ample storage capacity, the dam stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water resource management and climate adaptation. Whether engaging in outdoor recreation or studying the impact of climate change on water systems, visitors to Hickory Hills Recreation Dam can appreciate the beauty of nature while learning about the interconnected dynamics of water resources and climate resilience in Iowa's Tama County.
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 Hickory Hills Recreation Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wolf Creek Near Dysart | 336 cfs | → |
| Black Hawk Creek At Hudson | 299 cfs | → |
| Cedar River At Waterloo | 4,660 cfs | → |
| Cedar River At Cedar Falls | 4,150 cfs | → |
| Salt Creek Near Elberon | 164 cfs | → |
| Wapsipinicon River At Independence | 2,100 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hickory Hills Recreation Dam.
Boat launches
- Tama County
- Harmon Road Black Hawk County
- Black Hawk County
- 22nd Avenue Benton County
- Mitchell Avenue Waterloo
- 24th Avenue Drive Benton County
Track Hickory Hills Recreation 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 Hickory Hills Recreation Dam
Where does the data for Hickory Hills Recreation 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 Hickory Hills Recreation Dam.