Willow Lake Dam dam
Willow Lake Dam
Willow Lake Dam, located in Harrison County, Iowa, was completed in 1976 and is owned by the local government. The dam, designed by DESIGN ENGINEERING,INC., serves the primary purpose of debris control along the TR-WILLOW CREEK river or stream. With a height of 31 feet and a length of 390 feet, the earth dam has a storage capacity of 44 acre-feet and a surface area of 19 acres.
Managed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Willow Lake Dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by the state. The dam's hazard potential is rated as low, with a moderate risk assessment score. While the dam's condition is currently not rated, it meets the necessary guidelines for emergency action planning. The dam also provides recreational opportunities in addition to its debris control function.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will appreciate the environmental impact and importance of Willow Lake Dam in managing water flow and debris along TR-WILLOW CREEK. As a key infrastructure in Harrison County, Iowa, the dam plays a crucial role in ensuring public safety and maintaining the ecological balance of the area. With its low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, Willow Lake Dam stands as a testament to effective water resource management and engineering in the region.
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 Willow Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Soldier River At Pisgah | 125 cfs | → |
| Boyer River At Logan | 432 cfs | → |
| Little Sioux River Near Turin | 1,680 cfs | → |
| Monona-Harrison Ditch Near Turin | 187 cfs | → |
| Maple River At Mapleton | 264 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Decatur | 26,300 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Willow Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Pelican Point
- Desoto Bend Nwr
- Blair City Boat Ramp
- Summit Lake
- Decatur
- Dodge Park Road , 68112:68152 Omaha
Campgrounds
- Little Sioux Scout Ranch
- Missouri Valley City Park
- Wilson Island State Rec Area
- Hitchcock County Nature Center
- Arrowhead Park
- Lewis And Clark State Park Campground
More reservoirs
Track Willow Lake 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 Willow Lake Dam
Where does the data for Willow Lake 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 Willow Lake Dam.