Lake Homestead Dam dam
Lake Homestead Dam
Lake Homestead Dam, also known as Lake Wildwood Dam, is a private earth dam located in Jackson County, Iowa, along the Maquoketa River. Completed in 1978, this dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a serene environment for water activities on its 33.5-acre surface area. With a height of 36 feet and a length of 580 feet, the dam provides a maximum storage capacity of 748 acre-feet, making it a significant water resource in the region.
Managed and regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Lake Homestead Dam has been deemed to have a significant hazard potential due to its location and design. Despite this, the dam's condition assessment in 2019 was rated as satisfactory, ensuring the safety of nearby communities. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 4 feet, and regular inspections are conducted every five years to monitor its integrity and prevent potential risks.
Located in the city of Canton, Lake Homestead Dam is not only a vital water resource but also a popular recreational spot for nature enthusiasts. With its picturesque surroundings and ample storage capacity, the dam serves as a hub for outdoor activities while also contributing to the conservation of the Maquoketa River watershed. Climate and water resource enthusiasts are drawn to this site to appreciate the intersection of human engineering and natural beauty in a harmonious setting.
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 Lake Homestead Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Fork Maquoketa River Near Fulton | 426 cfs | → |
| Maquoketa River Near Maquoketa | 1,370 cfs | → |
| Wapsipinicon River Near Anamosa | 1,010 cfs | → |
| Sinsinawa River Near Menominee | 22 cfs | → |
| Apple River Near Hanover | 229 cfs | → |
| Wapsipinicon River Near De Witt | 1,730 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Homestead Dam.
Boat launches
- 60th Avenue 17158, Jackson County
- North 5th Street 500, Maquoketa
- Ansel Briggs Highway Jackson County
- Lower Park Road Jones County
- Chavenelle Road Dubuque
Track Lake Homestead 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 Lake Homestead Dam
Where does the data for Lake Homestead 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 Significant 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 Lake Homestead Dam.