Kesler Dam dam
Kesler Dam
Located in Hamilton County, Iowa, Kesler Dam is a private-owned structure designed by the USDA NRCS for fire protection, stock, or small fish pond purposes. Completed in 1984, this earth dam stands at a height of 32 feet and spans 160 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 30 acre-feet. The dam is situated along the TR-Boone River and is regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place.
Kesler Dam, managed by a private owner, serves as a crucial reservoir for water storage in the region, with a surface area of 2 acres and a drainage area of 0.18 square miles. Despite its low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, the dam is classified as uncontrolled spillway type with a spillway width of 0 feet. While the condition assessment is not rated, the dam has not undergone any modifications since its completion and does not have an emergency action plan in place.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Kesler Dam to be an interesting site for its unique design by the USDA NRCS and its primary purpose of providing fire protection and supporting small-scale aquatic life. With its location along the Des Moines River and proximity to the Rock Island District, the dam plays a significant role in water management within the area. Though it poses a moderate risk, the dam's low hazard potential and lack of a rated condition assessment suggest a stable operational status, making it a noteworthy structure for conservation and monitoring efforts.
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 Kesler Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Boone River Near Webster City | 364 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River Near Stratford | 2,870 cfs | → |
| South Skunk River Near Ames | 241 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River At Fort Dodge | 2,170 cfs | → |
| Squaw Creek At Ames | 148 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 Kesler Dam.
Boat launches
- County Road D46 Webster County
- Webster County
- Vasse Avenue Webster County
- Little Wall Lake South Access Hamilton County
- Copperas Trail Webster County
Track Kesler 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 Kesler Dam
Where does the data for Kesler 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 Kesler Dam.