Bradfield Dam dam
Bradfield Dam
Bradfield Dam, located in Jefferson, Iowa, along the Skunk River, was completed in 1985 by the USDA NRCS. This private dam serves multiple purposes, including fire protection and creating a small fish pond. With a height of 17 feet and a length of 470 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 80 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 6 acres. Despite its relatively low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, the dam is regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to ensure its safety and compliance.
The dam is primarily constructed of earth and founded on soil, with an uncontrolled spillway type. While it has not been rated for condition assessment, the dam is considered to meet guidelines for emergency action plans, although specific details are not provided in the data. The risk management measures and inundation maps for the dam are also not explicitly mentioned, indicating potential areas for improvement in terms of emergency preparedness and response. Overall, Bradfield Dam represents a significant water resource structure in the region that plays a vital role in fire protection, stock management, and creating a habitat for small fish species.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the data on Bradfield Dam highlights the importance of monitoring and maintaining infrastructure for sustainable water management. With its location on the Skunk River in Iowa, the dam serves as a critical component for local water resources and ecosystem health. The involvement of the Iowa DNR in regulating and overseeing the dam's operations underscores the importance of state agencies in ensuring the safety and integrity of water infrastructure. By understanding the design, purpose, and risk factors associated with Bradfield Dam, enthusiasts can appreciate the complexities of managing water resources in a changing climate and the need for proactive measures to mitigate potential hazards and ensure long-term sustainability.
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 Bradfield Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines River At Ottumwa | 16,400 cfs | → |
| North Skunk River Near Sigourney | 1,540 cfs | → |
| Cedar Creek Near Oakland Mills | 1,340 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River At Keosauqua | 18,100 cfs | → |
| Fox River At Bloomfield | 7 cfs | → |
| Big Creek Near Mt. Pleasant | 43 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bradfield Dam.
Boat launches
- County Road V5g Keokuk County
- Dogwood Avenue Washington County
- W15 / 330th Avenue Keokuk County
- Cliffland Road Wapello County
- Jefferson Street Viaduct Ottumwa
- Van Buren County
Track Bradfield 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 Bradfield Dam
Where does the data for Bradfield 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 Bradfield Dam.