Indian Cr-Van Buren Watershed Site 15 dam
Indian Cr-Van Buren Watershed Site 15
Indian Cr-Van Buren Watershed Site 15 is a key water resource site located in Van Buren, Iowa, designed by the USDA NRCS for fire protection, stock, and small fish pond purposes. This earth dam, completed in 1989, stands at 37 feet high and spans 900 feet, with a storage capacity of 1060 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment in July 2020 revealed poor conditions, prompting further inspection and potential maintenance to ensure its structural integrity.
The watershed site, situated along TR-Indian Creek, falls under the regulatory purview of the Iowa DNR and is designated for flood risk reduction as well. Its moderate risk level and the lack of recent inspection data underscore the importance of continued monitoring and risk management measures to safeguard the surrounding community. With its unique ecosystem and critical role in water resource management, this site serves as a focal point for climate enthusiasts and water resource professionals interested in sustainable watershed development and conservation efforts in Iowa.
As stakeholders in the Indian Cr-Van Buren Watershed Site 15 navigate the complexities of dam maintenance and risk mitigation, collaboration among local government agencies, regulatory bodies, and the broader community will be essential. By prioritizing the site's long-term sustainability and resilience to climate challenges, stakeholders can ensure that this vital water resource infrastructure continues to fulfill its intended purposes while minimizing potential hazards and maximizing benefits for the local environment and population.
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 Indian Cr-Van Buren Watershed Site 15 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines River At Keosauqua | 22,200 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River At St. Francisville | 24,200 cfs | → |
| Fox River At Wayland | 1,510 cfs | → |
| Cedar Creek Near Oakland Mills | 2,420 cfs | → |
| Fox River At Bloomfield | 7 cfs | → |
| Big Creek Near Mt. Pleasant | 148 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Indian Cr-Van Buren Watershed Site 15.
Boat launches
- Jersey Avenue Van Buren County
- Van Buren County
- See Road Scotland County
- Lake Showme Drive Scotland County
Track Indian Cr-Van Buren Watershed Site 15 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 Indian Cr-Van Buren Watershed Site 15
Where does the data for Indian Cr-Van Buren Watershed Site 15 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 Indian Cr-Van Buren Watershed Site 15.