Carson Dam dam
Carson Dam
Carson Dam, located in Johnson County, Iowa, was completed in 1978 and serves as a vital water resource for the area. The dam's primary purpose is for fire protection, stock, or as a small fish pond, providing storage capacity of 25 acre-feet and a surface area of 2.2 acres. The structure is owned privately and regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, ensuring proper inspection, permitting, and enforcement measures are in place to maintain its integrity.
Constructed with an earth design and soil foundation, Carson Dam stands at a height of 27 feet and a length of 160 feet along the TR-Cedar River. Despite its low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, the dam has not been rated for its condition. With a controlled spillway type and uncontrolled spillway width, the structure poses minimal risk to surrounding areas. While the dam has not undergone recent inspection or maintenance, its presence remains crucial for water conservation and management in the region.
Managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Carson Dam continues to play a significant role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts. With its strategic location and purpose, the dam serves as a reliable source for fire protection and agricultural needs while contributing to the overall sustainability of the surrounding ecosystem. As enthusiasts in water resource and climate conservation, the significance of Carson Dam lies in its contribution to the efficient utilization and preservation of water resources in Johnson County, Iowa.
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 Carson Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa River Below Coralville Dam Nr Coralville | 2,140 cfs | → |
| Rapid Creek Near Iowa City | 10 cfs | → |
| Hoover Crk At Hoover Nat.Hist.Site West Branch | 2 cfs | → |
| Cedar River At Cedar Rapids | 4,490 cfs | → |
| Iowa River At Iowa City | 2,160 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek Near Coralville | 29 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Carson Dam.
Boat launches
- Cedar Park Road Linn County
- White Oak Avenue Northeast 1273, Cedar Township
- Kepler Drive Linn County
- Cottage Reserve Road Northeast Big Grove Township
- Lake Mcbride Road East Big Grove Township
- Lake Mcbride Road Northeast Big Grove Township
Track Carson 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 Carson Dam
Where does the data for Carson 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 Carson Dam.