Tonderum Dam dam
Tonderum Dam
Tonderum Dam, located in Armstrong, Iowa, was completed in 1970 and is owned by a private entity. The dam, designed by USDA NRCS, serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock, and small fish pond. With a height of 21 feet and a length of 245 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 69 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 4.5 acres. It is regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and undergoes regular inspections and enforcement to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations.
The dam poses a low hazard potential and has not been rated for its condition assessment. However, it is considered to have a moderate risk level, with a risk assessment score of 3. While the dam has not been modified in recent years, it meets the guidelines for emergency action plans. Despite the absence of inundation maps and specific risk management measures, Tonderum Dam is of interest to water resource and climate enthusiasts due to its location on the TR- East Fork Des Moines River and its role in providing essential resources for the local community.
Overall, Tonderum Dam serves as a crucial infrastructure for water management and conservation in Emmet County, Iowa. Its presence not only supports agriculture and livestock activities but also contributes to fire protection and recreational fishing opportunities. With its earth dam structure and soil foundation, Tonderum Dam stands as a testament to sustainable water resource management and underscores the importance of maintaining and regulating dams for the benefit of both humans and the environment.
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 Tonderum Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines River At Jackson | 522 cfs | → |
| Ocheyedan River Near Spencer | 417 cfs | → |
| Watonwan River Near Garden City | 1,380 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River At Humboldt | 1,690 cfs | → |
| Little Sioux River At Linn Grove | 1,490 cfs | → |
| East Fork Des Moines River At Dakota City | 796 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Tonderum Dam.
Boat launches
- 10th Avenue North Estherville
- 130th Street 3653, Emmet County
- 150th Street Spirit Lake
- 140th Street 24728, Orleans
- Linden Drive 184, Arnolds Park
- Dam Road 798, Arnolds Park
Track Tonderum 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 Tonderum Dam
Where does the data for Tonderum 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 Tonderum Dam.