Kness Dam dam
Kness Dam
Kness Dam, located in Hiteman, Iowa, is a privately owned structure designed by the USDA NRCS for fire protection, stock, or small fish pond purposes. Completed in 1987, this earth dam stands at a height of 38 feet and spans 241 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 27 acre-feet. Situated on the TR-Coal Cr. river, this low hazard potential dam is regulated by the Iowa DNR and undergoes state inspections and enforcement to ensure its safety and functionality.
The dam's primary purpose is to provide essential water resources for fire protection and livestock, as well as recreational opportunities for small fish ponds. With a drainage area of 0.06 square miles and a surface area of 2 acres, Kness Dam plays a crucial role in managing water flow and storage in the region. Despite its moderate risk assessment rating, the dam has not been rated for its condition and has no emergency action plan in place, posing potential challenges in the event of a hazard.
As a vital structure in Monroe County, Iowa, Kness Dam serves as an important component of the local water resource management system. With its controlled spillway type and private ownership, the dam represents a key asset for ensuring water availability and safety for the surrounding community. Further evaluation and risk assessment measures may be necessary to enhance the dam's resilience and preparedness for potential emergencies in the future.
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 Kness Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chariton River Near Rathbun | 21 cfs | → |
| Cedar Creek Near Bussey | 22 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River Near Tracy | 6,480 cfs | → |
| Chariton River Near Chariton | 4 cfs | → |
| Chariton River Near Moulton | 56 cfs | → |
| South Fork Chariton River Near Promise City | 9 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kness Dam.
Boat launches
- Avian Court Appanoose County
- Husky Place Appanoose County
- Hornet Place Appanoose County
- 200th Avenue Appanoose County
- Islandview Place Appanoose County
- County Road S70 Appanoose County
Campgrounds
- Miami Lake Park
- Honey Creek State Park Campground
- Quercus Wilderness Area
- Eveland Access
- Cedar Creek Access
- Lake Wapello State Park Campground
More reservoirs
Track Kness 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 Kness Dam
Where does the data for Kness 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 Kness Dam.