Tjaden Dam dam
Tjaden Dam
Tjaden Dam, located in Gifford, Iowa, was completed in 1985 and is owned privately. The dam, designed by USDA NRCS, is primarily used for fire protection, stock, and as a small fish pond. Standing at 30 feet high and 245 feet long, Tjaden Dam holds a normal storage capacity of 14 acre-feet and has a low hazard potential.
Managed by the Iowa DNR, Tjaden Dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state. The dam, constructed with an earth type structure on soil foundation, serves the purpose of protecting the surrounding area against floods and providing water for recreational purposes. With a drainage area of 0.05 square miles and a surface area of 2 acres, the dam plays a significant role in water resource management in the region.
Despite being categorized as having a moderate risk (3) due to its condition assessment being "not rated," Tjaden Dam remains a crucial component of the region's water infrastructure. With its strategic location on the TR-S. FK. IOWA R. and its low hazard potential, the dam continues to serve its purpose effectively while being closely monitored for any potential risks or hazards.
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 Tjaden Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Fork Iowa River Ne Of New Providence | 163 cfs | → |
| Iowa River At Marshalltown | 768 cfs | → |
| Timber Creek Near Marshalltown | 88 cfs | → |
| Beaver Creek At New Hartford | 254 cfs | → |
| South Skunk River Near Ames | 241 cfs | → |
| Black Hawk Creek At Hudson | 191 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Tjaden Dam.
Boat launches
- 1st Street Eldora
- Eastwood Drive Eldora
- County Road S56 Hardin County
- Marsh Avenue Marshall County
- River Street 126, Iowa Falls
- Bb Avenue Tama County
Track Tjaden 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 Tjaden Dam
Where does the data for Tjaden 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 Tjaden Dam.