Vaubel Dam dam
Vaubel Dam
Vaubel Dam in Tama, Iowa, stands as a testament to private ownership and state regulation in the realm of water resource management. Built in 1983 by the Soil Conservation Service (SCS), this earth dam serves multiple purposes including fire protection and creating a small fish pond. With a height of 29 feet and a length of 600 feet, the dam holds a normal storage capacity of 37 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 6.2 acres.
Located on the Cedar River tributary of Rock Creek, Vaubel Dam is under the jurisdiction of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and boasts a low hazard potential with a moderate risk assessment score of 3. Despite its relatively modest scale, the dam is subject to regular inspections, permitting, and enforcement by state agencies, ensuring its safe and efficient operation. The dam's uncontrolled spillway and soil foundation are typical of earth dams, providing a crucial barrier to control water flow and prevent flooding downstream.
Overall, Vaubel Dam serves as a vital component of the local water management infrastructure, protecting the surrounding area from potential hazards and providing necessary resources for both human and ecological needs. Its presence highlights the importance of private and state cooperation in safeguarding water resources and adapting to the changing climate conditions that impact water availability and quality. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Vaubel Dam is a prime example of the intersection between human intervention and natural processes in maintaining a sustainable water supply for present and future generations.
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 Vaubel Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wolf Creek Near Dysart | 220 cfs | → |
| Black Hawk Creek At Hudson | 191 cfs | → |
| Salt Creek Near Elberon | 130 cfs | → |
| Cedar River At Waterloo | 3,250 cfs | → |
| Richland Creek Near Haven | 34 cfs | → |
| Iowa River Near Belle Plaine | 1,990 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Vaubel Dam.
Boat launches
- Tama County
- Black Hawk County
- Harmon Road Black Hawk County
- 22nd Avenue Benton County
- 24th Avenue Drive Benton County
- 27th Avenue Benton County
Track Vaubel 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 Vaubel Dam
Where does the data for Vaubel 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 Vaubel Dam.