Wuthrich Dam dam
Wuthrich Dam
Wuthrich Dam, located in Davis County, Iowa, was completed in 1976 by the USDA NRCS and serves multiple purposes including fire protection and creating a small fish pond. This earth dam stands at a height of 32 feet and has a length of 380 feet, with a storage capacity of 88 acre-feet. Situated on TR North Wyacondah Creek, the dam is regulated by the Iowa DNR and is inspected regularly to ensure its safety and functionality.
Despite its low hazard potential, Wuthrich Dam is considered to have a moderate risk level, with a risk assessment rating of 3. It is not currently rated for condition assessment, but it meets state permitting and inspection requirements. While the dam does not have a designated emergency action plan (EAP) in place, it is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway to manage excess water flow. Overall, Wuthrich Dam serves as a vital resource for the local community, providing water storage for fire protection and recreational activities in the area.
As a private-owned structure, Wuthrich Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region and contributes to the conservation efforts led by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. With its strategic location on the TR North Wyacondah Creek, the dam serves as a key feature in the landscape, offering both practical benefits and environmental value. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate science will find Wuthrich Dam to be an intriguing example of sustainable infrastructure design and management in the context of changing climate patterns and water resource 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 Wuthrich Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Fox River At Bloomfield | 7 cfs | → |
| Chariton River Near Moulton | 66 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River At Ottumwa | 6,430 cfs | → |
| Chariton River At Livonia | 45 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River At Keosauqua | 6,820 cfs | → |
| Chariton River Near Rathbun | 23 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wuthrich Dam.
Boat launches
- Cliffland Road Wapello County
- Jefferson Street Viaduct Ottumwa
- Jersey Avenue Van Buren County
- Us 136 Schuyler County
- Lake Showme Drive Scotland County
- Van Buren County
Track Wuthrich 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 Wuthrich Dam
Where does the data for Wuthrich 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 Wuthrich Dam.