Mule Creek Watershed Sta 48+00 dam
Mule Creek Watershed Sta 48+00
Mule Creek Watershed Sta 48+00, located in Mills County, Iowa, is a vital water resource managed by the local government and regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. This earth dam structure, designed by USDA NRCS in 1956, serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock watering, and small fish pond management. With a dam height of 37 feet and a storage capacity of 63 acre-feet, the structure covers a surface area of 3.8 acres and drains a small watershed area of 0.38 square miles.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, Mule Creek Watershed Sta 48+00 poses a moderate risk, mainly attributed to its age and condition assessment currently listed as "Not Rated". While the emergency action plan (EAP) status and risk management measures are not specified, the structure has not been modified since its construction. The dam holds a normal storage capacity of 18 acre-feet with an uncontrolled spillway type, emphasizing the importance of regular inspections and maintenance to ensure its continued effectiveness in flood risk reduction and water resource management.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the Mule Creek Watershed Sta 48+00 can appreciate its historical significance as a fire protection and livestock watering infrastructure in rural Iowa. The dam's location in the Omaha District alongside TR-Mule Creek underscores its role in sustaining local ecosystems and providing essential water resources for the community. As climate change impacts continue to influence water management practices, understanding the condition and risk assessment of structures like Mule Creek Watershed Sta 48+00 becomes crucial for ensuring sustainable water resource management and resilience to future challenges.
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 Mule Creek Watershed Sta 48+00 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| West Nishnabotna River At Randolph | 1,130 cfs | → |
| Weeping Water Creek At Union | 56 cfs | → |
| East Nishnabotna River At Red Oak | 366 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Nebraska City | 42,100 cfs | → |
| Nishnabotna River Above Hamburg | 3,240 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Omaha | 34,900 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mule Creek Watershed Sta 48+00.
Boat launches
- Us 34;Us 275 Mills County
- Mills County
- I 29;Us 275 Mills County
- Plattsmouth Boat Ramp
- Haworth River Park
- Catfish Rd Council Bluffs
Track Mule Creek Watershed Sta 48+00 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 Mule Creek Watershed Sta 48+00
Where does the data for Mule Creek Watershed Sta 48+00 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 Mule Creek Watershed Sta 48+00.