Des Moines-Scott Street Milldam dam
Des Moines-Scott Street Milldam
Des Moines-Scott Street Milldam is a historic gravity dam located in Des Moines, Iowa, along the Des Moines River. Built in 1920, this local government-owned structure serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a serene environment for water resource and climate enthusiasts to enjoy. With a height of 7 feet and a length of 684 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 798 acre-feet, providing a surface area of 200 acres for outdoor activities.
Managed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the Des Moines-Scott Street Milldam is regulated and inspected to ensure public safety and environmental protection. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is considered to have a moderate risk level, emphasizing the importance of ongoing risk assessment and management measures. While its condition assessment is currently not rated, the structure remains a significant part of the local landscape, attracting visitors and serving as a key feature of the Des Moines River.
For those interested in exploring the intersection of water resources and climate resilience, the Des Moines-Scott Street Milldam offers a unique opportunity to appreciate the engineering and environmental aspects of dam infrastructure. With its historical significance and recreational value, this gravity dam stands as a testament to the importance of managing water resources sustainably and adapting to changing climate conditions. Whether for leisurely activities or educational purposes, the dam serves as a focal point for understanding the interplay between natural systems and human interventions in the dynamic landscape of Iowa's waterways.
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 Des Moines-Scott Street Milldam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines River Blw Raccoon Riv At Des Moines | 9,310 cfs | → |
| Raccoon River At Fleur Drive | 3,040 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River At 2nd Avenue | 5,350 cfs | → |
| Fourmile Creek At Des Moines | 217 cfs | → |
| Walnut Creek At Des Moines | 101 cfs | → |
| Raccoon River At 63rd Street At Des Moines | 3,100 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Des Moines-Scott Street Milldam.
Boat launches
- Kruidenier Trail Des Moines
- Birdland Park Boat Launch
- Prospect Road Des Moines
- County Park Des Moines
- Southeast Vandalia Drive Pleasant Hill
- Raccoon River Park Trail West Des Moines
Track Des Moines-Scott Street 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 Des Moines-Scott Street Milldam
Where does the data for Des Moines-Scott Street 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 Des Moines-Scott Street Milldam.