Oakland Mills Dam dam
Oakland Mills Dam
Located in Oakland Mills, Iowa, the Oakland Mills Dam is a gravity dam constructed in 1910 on the Skunk River. With a height of 10 feet and a length of 471 feet, this dam serves a primary purpose of recreation and has a normal storage capacity of 3,140 acre-feet. The dam is regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and is inspected, permitted, and enforced by state authorities to ensure its safety and functionality.
The Oakland Mills Dam has a low hazard potential and is currently in satisfactory condition, as assessed in 2009. The spillway type is uncontrolled, with a width of 254 feet, and the dam is built on a soil foundation. Although the dam has not been modified in recent years, it poses a moderate risk according to a risk assessment rating of 3. With its scenic location and recreational opportunities, the Oakland Mills Dam is a significant landmark in Henry County, Iowa, attracting water resource and climate enthusiasts who appreciate its engineering and environmental impact on the Skunk River ecosystem.
For those interested in the intersection of water resource management and climate resilience, the Oakland Mills Dam offers a fascinating case study of a historic gravity dam that continues to provide recreational benefits while meeting regulatory standards for safety and operation. The dam's association with the Skunk River and its modest storage capacity make it an important feature in the local landscape, contributing to flood control and water supply management efforts in the region. As water resource and climate enthusiasts explore the Oakland Mills Dam, they can appreciate its role in balancing human needs with ecological considerations, highlighting the complex relationship between infrastructure development and environmental stewardship in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Oakland Mills Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar Creek Near Oakland Mills | 1,110 cfs | → |
| Big Creek Near Mt. Pleasant | 84 cfs | → |
| Skunk River At Augusta | 9,200 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River At Keosauqua | 21,500 cfs | → |
| Iowa River At Wapello | 14,600 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River At St. Francisville | 22,800 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Oakland Mills Dam.
Boat launches
- Van Buren County
- Dogwood Avenue Washington County
- Jersey Avenue Van Buren County
- Vine Avenue Washington County
- High Street Burlington
- W15 / 330th Avenue Keokuk County
Campgrounds
- Oakland Mills Park
- Waterworks Park - Oakland Mills Park
- Water Works Park
- Midwest Old Threshers
- Mac Coon Access
- Round Prairie Park
More reservoirs
Track Oakland Mills 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 Oakland Mills Dam
Where does the data for Oakland Mills 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 Oakland Mills Dam.