Des Moines-Center Street Milldam dam
Des Moines-Center Street Milldam
Des Moines-Center Street Milldam is a historic gravity dam located in Polk, Iowa, along the Des Moines River. Built in 1916, the dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, providing a surface area of 355 acres and a drainage area of 6245 square miles. With a height of 11 feet and a length of 417 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 2731 acre-feet, making it a significant feature in the local landscape.
Managed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the dam is categorized as low-hazard with a moderate risk assessment score of 3. Despite being in operation for over a century, the dam's condition remains unrated due to a lack of recent inspections. While it is considered safe, there are no emergency action plans in place, indicating a potential area for improvement in terms of risk management and preparedness.
Although the dam has not undergone significant modifications or upgrades in recent years, its historical significance and role in providing recreational opportunities for the community highlight the importance of maintaining and monitoring its structural integrity. As climate change continues to impact water resources, ensuring the safety and resilience of dams like Des Moines-Center Street Milldam becomes increasingly crucial for sustainable water management in the region.
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-Center 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-Center Street Milldam.
Boat launches
- Birdland Park Boat Launch
- Kruidenier Trail Des Moines
- Prospect Road Des Moines
- County Park Des Moines
- Southeast Vandalia Drive Pleasant Hill
- Neal Smith Trail Polk County
Track Des Moines-Center 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-Center Street Milldam
Where does the data for Des Moines-Center 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-Center Street Milldam.