Yellowsmoke Park Dam dam
Yellowsmoke Park Dam
Yellowsmoke Park Dam, located in Denison, Iowa, is a vital water resource managed by the local government. Built in 1980 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 59 feet and spans 940 feet, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 1,680 acre-feet. The dam primarily serves as a recreational site, offering opportunities for fishing, boating, and other outdoor activities along Mud Creek.
Despite its satisfactory condition assessment, Yellowsmoke Park Dam has a high hazard potential, prompting regular inspections by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The dam's uncontrolled spillway and soil foundation pose potential risks that require careful monitoring and maintenance. Additionally, the dam's proximity to residential areas underscores the importance of emergency preparedness and risk management measures to ensure public safety in case of a flood event.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate Yellowsmoke Park Dam as a significant infrastructure contributing to the natural landscape of Crawford County. Its role in providing recreational opportunities, managing water storage, and safeguarding against potential hazards highlights the importance of sustainable dam management practices in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Yellowsmoke Park Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Maple River At Mapleton | 404 cfs | → |
| North Raccoon River Near Sac City | 426 cfs | → |
| Little Sioux River Near Turin | 3,050 cfs | → |
| Soldier River At Pisgah | 165 cfs | → |
| Monona-Harrison Ditch Near Turin | 449 cfs | → |
| Boyer River At Logan | 520 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Yellowsmoke Park Dam.
Track Yellowsmoke Park 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 Yellowsmoke Park Dam
Where does the data for Yellowsmoke Park 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 High 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 Yellowsmoke Park Dam.