Hale Dam dam
Hale Dam
Hale Dam, located in Wapello, Iowa, serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock maintenance, and small fish pond management. Completed in 1983, this earth dam stands at a height of 24 feet and stretches for 450 feet, with a storage capacity of 52 acre-feet. The dam is regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and is regularly inspected and enforced to ensure its safety and functionality.
Despite its low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, Hale Dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region. With a surface area of 2.8 acres and a drainage area of 0.33 square miles, the dam provides essential water storage for various uses while also contributing to the overall ecological balance of the area. The dam's uncontrolled spillway type indicates a focus on efficient water release during high flow events, further highlighting its importance in maintaining a sustainable water supply.
Owned and operated by a private entity, Hale Dam stands as a testament to effective water infrastructure management in Iowa. With its strategic location in the Little Soap Creek watershed, the dam not only fulfills its primary purposes but also serves as a valuable asset for the community. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is essential to recognize the significance of Hale Dam in maintaining water security and ecological integrity in the region.
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 Hale Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines River At Ottumwa | 21,400 cfs | → |
| Fox River At Bloomfield | 7 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River At Keosauqua | 22,200 cfs | → |
| Chariton River Near Moulton | 1,030 cfs | → |
| Chariton River Near Rathbun | 412 cfs | → |
| North Skunk River Near Sigourney | 3,630 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hale Dam.
Boat launches
- Cliffland Road Wapello County
- Jefferson Street Viaduct Ottumwa
- Van Buren County
- Jersey Avenue Van Buren County
- County Road V5g Keokuk County
- 200th Avenue Appanoose County
Campgrounds
- Drakesville City Park
- Mcgowen Rec Area
- Lake Fisher
- Lake Wapello State Park Campground
- Lake Wapello State Park
- Austin County Park
More reservoirs
Track Hale 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 Hale Dam
Where does the data for Hale 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 Hale Dam.