Van Scoy Dam dam
Van Scoy Dam
Van Scoy Dam, located in Hanley, Iowa, is a privately owned earth dam with a height of 24 feet and a length of 582 feet. Completed in 1985 by the USDA NRCS, the dam serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock, and small fish pond management. With a storage capacity of 77 acre-feet and a surface area of 6.3 acres, the dam regulates the flow of the Jones Creek river.
Managed and regulated by the Iowa DNR, Van Scoy Dam has a low hazard potential and is currently rated as "Not Rated" in terms of condition assessment. Despite its moderate risk level, the dam has not undergone recent inspections or risk assessments, and emergency action plans are not up to date. The surrounding area of Madison, Iowa benefits from the water resource provided by the dam, but there may be room for improvement in terms of risk management and emergency preparedness.
Climate and water resource enthusiasts interested in Van Scoy Dam can appreciate its role in providing water storage and management for the local community. The dam's design and purpose align with sustainable practices, but there is a need for enhanced inspection and emergency response protocols to ensure the safety and efficiency of this vital infrastructure in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Van Scoy Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Raccoon River At Van Meter | 1,660 cfs | → |
| North River Near Norwalk | 223 cfs | → |
| Raccoon River Near West Des Moines | 1,300 cfs | → |
| Middle River Near Indianola | 199 cfs | → |
| South River Near Ackworth | 48 cfs | → |
| Raccoon River At 63rd Street At Des Moines | 1,810 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Van Scoy Dam.
Boat launches
- 120th Street Madison County
- Pershing Street Warren County
- 118th Avenue Warren County
- Us 34 Clarke County
- 360th Street Dallas County
- Walnut Woods Drive West Des Moines
Track Van Scoy 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 Van Scoy Dam
Where does the data for Van Scoy 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 Van Scoy Dam.