Adel Milldam dam
Adel Milldam
Adel Milldam, located on the North Raccoon River in Adel, Iowa, is a gravity dam completed in 1927 primarily for water supply purposes. Managed by the local government, this dam stands at a height of 15 feet and spans a length of 252 feet, with a storage capacity of 1,448 acre-feet. The dam's low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment make it a crucial asset for water resource management in the region.
Owned and regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Adel Milldam plays a vital role in ensuring water supply and regulation in the area. With a surface area of 170 acres and serving a drainage area of 2,281 square miles, this dam is essential for maintaining the ecological balance of the North Raccoon River and surrounding areas. Although the dam's condition assessment is currently not rated, its strategic location and design contribute significantly to water resource conservation efforts.
Despite its age, Adel Milldam continues to operate effectively, meeting state permitting, inspection, and enforcement requirements. With its uncontrolled spillway and soil foundation, this structure reflects a blend of traditional engineering and modern regulatory standards. As climate change impacts water resources, the significance of dams like Adel Milldam only grows, highlighting the need for sustainable water management practices and investments in infrastructure to address evolving environmental 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 Adel Milldam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Raccoon River At Van Meter | 1,510 cfs | → |
| South Raccoon River At Redfield | 486 cfs | → |
| Raccoon River Near West Des Moines | 1,300 cfs | → |
| Beaver Creek Near Grimes | 229 cfs | → |
| Walnut Creek At Des Moines | 39 cfs | → |
| Raccoon River At 63rd Street At Des Moines | 1,660 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Adel Milldam.
Track Adel Milldam 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 Adel Milldam
Where does the data for Adel Milldam 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 Adel Milldam.