Clausen Dam dam
Clausen Dam
Clausen Dam, located in Clinton, Iowa, was completed in 1975 and is owned privately. The dam, designed by USDA NRCS, serves the primary purposes of fire protection and creating a small fish pond. With a height of 29 feet and a length of 350 feet, Clausen Dam has a storage capacity of 51 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 4 acres. The dam is regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and undergoes regular state inspections, ensuring its safety and compliance with regulations.
Situated on TR-Brophys Creek, Clausen Dam poses a low hazard potential and has a moderate risk assessment rating. Although the dam is not currently rated for its condition, it meets state permitting and enforcement requirements. The spillway type is uncontrolled, with no outlet gates or associated structures. The dam is located in a picturesque setting in Clinton County, Iowa, offering both practical uses for fire protection and recreational opportunities for fishing and wildlife observation.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Clausen Dam provides a fascinating example of earth dam construction and management. With its unique design and purpose, the dam adds to the diverse landscape of water infrastructure in Iowa. As a privately owned structure, Clausen Dam highlights the importance of collaboration between private owners and state regulatory agencies to ensure the safety and sustainability of water resources in the region.
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 Clausen Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi River At Clinton | 59,100 cfs | → |
| Wapsipinicon River Near De Witt | 3,770 cfs | → |
| Maquoketa River Near Maquoketa | 1,730 cfs | → |
| Apple River Near Hanover | 102 cfs | → |
| North Fork Maquoketa River Near Fulton | 488 cfs | → |
| Rock River Near Joslin | 5,780 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Clausen Dam.
Boat launches
See all →
About Clausen Dam
Where does the data for Clausen 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 below 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.
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.