Four-H Recreation Dam dam
Four-H Recreation Dam
Four-H Recreation Dam, located in Muscatine Lake, Louisa County, Iowa, was completed in 1977 with a primary purpose of recreation. Owned privately, the dam is regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and is subject to state permitting, inspection, and enforcement. Designed by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 35 feet and spans 183 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 70 acre-feet.
With a surface area of 4.8 acres and a drainage area of 0.3 square miles, Four-H Recreation Dam serves as a popular recreational spot for water resource and climate enthusiasts. The dam has a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating. Although the condition assessment is not rated, the dam meets regulatory guidelines and is regularly inspected for safety and maintenance. The spillway type is uncontrolled, and the dam has a normal storage capacity of 34 acre-feet.
Despite its age, Four-H Recreation Dam continues to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, and wildlife observation. With its picturesque location and well-maintained facilities, this earth dam remains a valuable asset for the community and a key contributor to the region's water resource management efforts.
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 Four-H Recreation Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa River At Wapello | 10,200 cfs | → |
| Edwards River Near New Boston | 264 cfs | → |
| Cedar River Near Conesville | 6,160 cfs | → |
| Pope Creek Near Keithsburg | 76 cfs | → |
| Iowa River Near Lone Tree | 3,230 cfs | → |
| Henderson Creek Near Oquawka | 254 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Four-H Recreation Dam.
Boat launches
- 120th Street Louisa County
- F Avenue 9777, Louisa County
- 78th Street Louisa County
- Prairie Street 5898, Louisa County
- Prairie Street 5882, Louisa County
- 4th Street 201, Keithsburg
Track Four-H Recreation 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 Four-H Recreation Dam
Where does the data for Four-H Recreation 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 Four-H Recreation Dam.