Forest Lake Camp Dam dam
Forest Lake Camp Dam
Forest Lake Camp Dam, located in Wapello, Iowa, along Turkey Creek, is a privately owned earth dam designed by the USDA NRCS in 1953. The primary purpose of this dam is for recreation, with a storage capacity of 100 acre-feet and a maximum height of 31 feet. The dam spans 335 feet in length and covers a surface area of 6 acres, serving as a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy water-based activities.
Managed by the Iowa DNR, Forest Lake Camp Dam is considered to have a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment. While its condition is currently not rated, the dam is subject to state regulation, inspection, and enforcement. The spillway type is uncontrolled, and there are no associated locks or outlet gates on the structure. With its picturesque location and ample storage capacity, the dam provides a serene setting for recreational activities along the Des Moines River.
Overall, Forest Lake Camp Dam is a well-maintained and regulated structure that offers a safe and enjoyable environment for water resource and climate enthusiasts. Its design by the USDA NRCS and oversight by the Iowa DNR ensure that the dam continues to serve its primary purpose of recreation while meeting state regulatory standards. With a low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, this earth dam on Turkey Creek provides a tranquil retreat for visitors to appreciate the beauty of Iowa's natural landscapes.
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 Forest Lake Camp Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines River At Ottumwa | 21,400 cfs | → |
| Fox River At Bloomfield | 7 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River At Keosauqua | 22,200 cfs | → |
| Chariton River Near Moulton | 1,030 cfs | → |
| North Skunk River Near Sigourney | 3,630 cfs | → |
| Chariton River Near Rathbun | 412 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Forest Lake Camp Dam.
Boat launches
- Cliffland Road Wapello County
- Jefferson Street Viaduct Ottumwa
- Van Buren County
- County Road V5g Keokuk County
- Mahaska County
- Jersey Avenue Van Buren County
Track Forest Lake Camp 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 Forest Lake Camp Dam
Where does the data for Forest Lake Camp 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 Forest Lake Camp Dam.