Humboldt Milldam dam
Humboldt Milldam
Humboldt Milldam, located in Humboldt, Iowa, along the West Fork Des Moines River, is a gravity dam primarily used for recreation. Built in 1912, the dam stands at a height of 13 feet and spans 460 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 3,071 acre-feet. Although the dam is classified as having a low hazard potential, it is regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety and integrity.
Despite its age, Humboldt Milldam has not been rated for its current condition, indicating a need for further assessment and potentially maintenance or upgrades. The dam's spillway is uncontrolled, and its risk assessment is moderate, with a DSAC risk level of 3. While the dam serves as a popular recreational spot in the area, with a surface area of 470 acres, its risk management measures and emergency action plan readiness are unclear, highlighting areas for improvement to enhance public safety and environmental protection surrounding the dam.
In the realm of water resource and climate enthusiasts, Humboldt Milldam presents an intriguing case study for the intersection of historic infrastructure, recreational use, and risk management in the face of changing environmental conditions. As discussions around dam safety and resilience continue to evolve, Humboldt Milldam stands as a reminder of the ongoing need for proactive maintenance and planning to ensure the long-term sustainability of water resources and infrastructure 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 Humboldt Milldam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines River At Humboldt | 1,190 cfs | → |
| East Fork Des Moines River At Dakota City | 741 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River At Fort Dodge | 2,170 cfs | → |
| Boone River Near Webster City | 364 cfs | → |
| Iowa River Near Rowan | 218 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River Near Stratford | 2,870 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Humboldt Milldam.
Track Humboldt 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 Humboldt Milldam
Where does the data for Humboldt 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 Humboldt Milldam.