Badger Creek Watershed Site 33-1 dam
Badger Creek Watershed Site 33-1
Located in the heart of Iowa, the Badger Creek Watershed Site 33-1 is a vital piece of infrastructure designed by the USDA NRCS to serve multiple purposes including fire protection, stock management, and flood risk reduction. This earth dam, completed in 1973, stands at a height of 30 feet and spans 420 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 114 acre-feet. Situated along the TR-Badger Creek, this dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region.
Maintained and regulated by the Iowa DNR, the Badger Creek Watershed Site 33-1 has a low hazard potential and is currently rated as "Not Rated" in terms of its condition assessment. Despite its moderate risk level, the dam serves as a key asset in mitigating flood risks and ensuring water security for the local community in Churchville, Iowa. With a drainage area of 0.46 square miles and a surface area of 5.7 acres, this site is a testament to effective water resource management strategies in action.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts continue to monitor the impact of climate change on water systems, the Badger Creek Watershed Site 33-1 stands as a symbol of resilience and adaptability in the face of evolving environmental challenges. With a focus on safety, efficiency, and sustainability, this dam exemplifies the importance of proactive management practices to safeguard our water resources for future generations.
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 Badger Creek Watershed Site 33-1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Raccoon River At Van Meter | 2,980 cfs | → |
| Raccoon River Near West Des Moines | 1,320 cfs | → |
| North River Near Norwalk | 1,200 cfs | → |
| Raccoon River At 63rd Street At Des Moines | 2,970 cfs | → |
| Walnut Creek At Des Moines | 134 cfs | → |
| Middle River Near Indianola | 1,120 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Badger Creek Watershed Site 33-1.
Track Badger Creek Watershed Site 33-1 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 Badger Creek Watershed Site 33-1
Where does the data for Badger Creek Watershed Site 33-1 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 Badger Creek Watershed Site 33-1.