Wise Dam dam
Wise Dam
Wise Dam, located in Smithland, Iowa, is a privately owned structure designed by the USDA NRCS with a primary purpose of fire protection, stock, or small fish pond. Completed in 1967, this earth dam stands at a height of 31 feet and has a length of 289 feet. It has a storage capacity of 19 acre-feet, with a normal storage of 14 acre-feet, serving as a water resource for the local area.
Managed by the Iowa DNR, Wise Dam is state-regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced to ensure safety and compliance. The dam has a low hazard potential and is currently rated as "Not Rated" in terms of condition assessment. While it has not been assessed for Emergency Action Plan (EAP) preparedness, the risk assessment is moderate, warranting attention to risk management measures. Located on the TR-Little Sioux River, Wise Dam plays a crucial role in water resource management and climate resilience in Woodbury County, Iowa.
Despite its modest size and storage capacity, Wise Dam serves as a vital infrastructure for fire protection, livestock, and recreational purposes in the region. With its controlled spillway and state regulation, the dam ensures water safety and management for the surrounding community. As climate change impacts water resources, Wise Dam stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water infrastructure for both human and ecological needs in the face of evolving climate challenges.
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 Wise Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| West Fork Ditch At Hornick | 80 cfs | → |
| Maple River At Mapleton | 264 cfs | → |
| Little Sioux River At Correctionville | 1,400 cfs | → |
| Little Sioux River Near Turin | 1,680 cfs | → |
| Monona-Harrison Ditch Near Turin | 187 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Decatur | 26,300 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wise Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Track Wise 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 Wise Dam
Where does the data for Wise 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 Wise Dam.