Little River Watershed Site 65 dam
Little River Watershed Site 65
Little River Watershed Site 65, located in Decatur, Iowa, is a significant earth dam completed in 1987 for flood risk reduction along the West Little River. With a height of 45 feet and a length of 1470 feet, this dam has a storage capacity of 6700 acre-feet and serves a drainage area of 9.4 square miles. Managed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, this dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by state authorities to ensure its structural integrity and safety.
The dam at Little River Watershed Site 65 plays a crucial role in mitigating flood risks in the region, while also providing recreational opportunities for the local community. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled with a width of 3 feet, and its hazard potential is deemed significant. Despite this, the condition assessment in 2019 reported the dam as satisfactory, with a moderate risk rating. Regular inspections are conducted every 5 years to monitor its performance and address any potential issues that may arise.
As a key infrastructure for water resource management, Little River Watershed Site 65 is a vital component of the local ecosystem and serves as a protective barrier against flooding events. With its strategic location and design, this dam showcases the collaborative efforts of various agencies, including the Natural Resources Conservation Service, in ensuring the safety and functionality of the structure. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, this site offers a fascinating case study in flood risk reduction and the importance of sustainable water management practices in the face of changing environmental 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 Little River Watershed Site 65 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Thompson River At Davis City | 11,000 cfs | → |
| Chariton River Near Chariton | 2,400 cfs | → |
| South Fork Chariton River Near Promise City | 2,690 cfs | → |
| East Fork Big Creek Near Bethany | 2,490 cfs | → |
| South River Near Ackworth | 9,780 cfs | → |
| White Breast Creek Near Dallas | 6,970 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Little River Watershed Site 65.
Track Little River Watershed Site 65 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 Little River Watershed Site 65
Where does the data for Little River Watershed Site 65 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 Significant 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 Little River Watershed Site 65.