Owens Dam dam
Owens Dam
Owens Dam, located in Jasper County, Iowa, along the North Skunk River, was completed in 1980 with a primary purpose of providing fire protection, stock, or a small fish pond. The dam, owned by a private entity, stands at 33 feet high and spans 350 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 64 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is regulated and inspected by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, ensuring its safety and compliance with state regulations.
Managed by the USDA NRCS, Owens Dam is constructed of earth and rests on a soil foundation, serving as a vital water resource for the local community. With a surface area of 3.3 acres and a drainage area of 0.2 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in water storage and management in the region. While its spillway is uncontrolled, the dam poses a moderate risk and is currently rated as "not assessed" in terms of its condition, making regular inspections and risk assessments essential for its continued operation.
Despite its relatively small size and low hazard potential, Owens Dam plays a significant role in providing water resources for fire protection and agricultural purposes in the area. With its location in a private ownership setting, the dam's management by the USDA NRCS ensures its compliance with state regulations and safety standards. As climate enthusiasts and water resource advocates, it is essential to monitor and assess the condition of Owens Dam to ensure its continued functionality for the surrounding community and ecosystem.
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 Owens Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Skunk River At Colfax | 631 cfs | → |
| Indian Creek Near Mingo | 213 cfs | → |
| Timber Creek Near Marshalltown | 88 cfs | → |
| Iowa River At Marshalltown | 768 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River Near Pella | 6,780 cfs | → |
| Richland Creek Near Haven | 34 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Owens Dam.
Boat launches
- Jade Street Jasper County
- Rock Creek East Street Jasper County
- Arney Avenue Marshall County
- C Avenue Tama County
- Marion County
Campgrounds
- Kellogg Rv Park
- Mariposa Co Park
- Rock Creek State Park
- Ashton Wildwood Park
- Robertson Access
- Roberts Creek Park
More reservoirs
Track Owens 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 Owens Dam
Where does the data for Owens 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 Owens Dam.