Sharp Dam dam
Sharp Dam
Sharp Dam, located in Arion, Iowa, serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock, and small fish pond management. Completed in 1954, this earth dam stands at a height of 30 feet and spans 300 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 41 acre-feet. The dam is regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and is subject to regular state inspections and enforcement measures, ensuring its safety and compliance with regulations.
The dam's low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment make it a crucial component of water resource management in Crawford County. Situated on the TR-Boyer River, Sharp Dam plays a significant role in mitigating flood risks and providing essential water storage for various uses. Despite its importance, the dam has not been rated for its condition, highlighting the need for ongoing assessments and maintenance to ensure its continued functionality and safety.
With its strategic location and diverse purposes, Sharp Dam stands as a vital infrastructure for the local community and ecosystem. As a privately owned structure, it underscores the importance of private-public partnerships in managing water resources and adapting to climate challenges. Continued monitoring and risk management measures will be essential to safeguarding the dam's effectiveness in the face of evolving environmental conditions and regulatory requirements.
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 Sharp Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Maple River At Mapleton | 278 cfs | → |
| Soldier River At Pisgah | 127 cfs | → |
| Boyer River At Logan | 438 cfs | → |
| Little Sioux River Near Turin | 1,740 cfs | → |
| Monona-Harrison Ditch Near Turin | 180 cfs | → |
| North Raccoon River Near Sac City | 270 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sharp Dam.
Track Sharp 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 Sharp Dam
Where does the data for Sharp 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 Sharp Dam.