Crab Tree Lake Dam dam
Crab Tree Lake Dam
Crab Tree Lake Dam, located in Marshall County, Iowa, is a privately-owned earth dam completed in 1948 for recreational purposes. Standing at a height of 33 feet and spanning a length of 1300 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 800 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 42 acres. The dam regulates the flow of TR-Clear Creek and is under the jurisdiction of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, which oversees its permitting, inspection, and enforcement processes.
Despite its significant hazard potential, the dam was last inspected in July 2017 and was deemed to be in satisfactory condition. However, the risk assessment categorizes it as having a moderate risk level. The dam has an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 4 feet, and it is advised to have emergency action plans in place in case of any unforeseen events. The dam's location in a recreational area highlights the importance of maintaining its structural integrity to ensure the safety of visitors and nearby residents.
As a vital component of the local water resource infrastructure, Crab Tree Lake Dam plays a crucial role in water management and recreational activities in the area. Its design, construction, and oversight are essential for ensuring the safety and functionality of the dam for the community it serves. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate change will find Crab Tree Lake Dam to be an intriguing case study in dam management and the intersection of environmental conservation with recreational development.
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 Crab Tree Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Creek Near Mingo | 213 cfs | → |
| South Skunk River At Colfax | 631 cfs | → |
| Iowa River At Marshalltown | 768 cfs | → |
| Timber Creek Near Marshalltown | 88 cfs | → |
| Fourmile Creek Near Ankeny | 36 cfs | → |
| South Skunk River Below Squaw Creek Near Ames | 424 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Crab Tree Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Arney Avenue Marshall County
- 255th Street Story County
- 250th Street Story County
- Marsh Avenue Marshall County
- Rock Creek East Street Jasper County
- Jade Street Jasper County
Track Crab Tree Lake 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 Crab Tree Lake Dam
Where does the data for Crab Tree Lake 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 Crab Tree Lake Dam.