Marsh Dam dam
Marsh Dam
Marsh Dam, located in Taylor County, Iowa, along the TR- West Branch 102 River, is a private earth dam designed by the USDA NRCS and completed in 1990. Standing at a height of 30 feet and spanning 424 feet in length, this dam serves multiple purposes including fire protection and creating a small fish pond. With a storage capacity of 41 acre-feet, the dam covers a surface area of 3 acres and has a drainage area of 0.15 square miles.
Despite its low hazard potential, Marsh Dam is regulated by the Iowa DNR and undergoes state inspections and enforcement. The dam is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway and has a moderate risk assessment rating of 3. While the condition of the dam is currently not rated, it meets state permitting requirements and has not been modified since its completion. The dam's emergency action plan status, inundation maps, and risk management measures are not fully disclosed, indicating a need for further evaluation and preparedness in the event of an emergency.
Overall, Marsh Dam serves as a vital resource for the local community in Hopkins, MO, providing essential water storage for fire protection and livestock use. As a private earth dam with state regulation and oversight, it highlights the importance of maintaining and monitoring water infrastructure to ensure safety and sustainability in the face of changing climate conditions. Climate and water resource enthusiasts can appreciate the unique design and purpose of Marsh Dam, as well as the ongoing efforts to assess and manage potential risks associated with its operation.
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 Marsh Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nodaway River At Clarinda | 778 cfs | → |
| East Fork 102 River At Bedford | 0 cfs | → |
| East Nishnabotna River At Red Oak | 404 cfs | → |
| Nodaway River Near Burlington Jct | 1,530 cfs | → |
| One Hundred And Two River At Maryville | 968 cfs | → |
| West Nishnabotna River At Randolph | 823 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Marsh Dam.
Boat launches
- Taylor County
- 220th Street 31599, Nodaway County
- State Highway 25 Creston
- 245th Street 31943, Nodaway County
- Nodaway County
Campgrounds
- Lake Of Three Fires State Park Campground
- Hacklebarney Woods County Park
- Viking Lake State Park
- Viking Lake State Park Campground
- Pioneer City Park
- Pioneer County Park Campgrounds
More reservoirs
Track Marsh 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 Marsh Dam
Where does the data for Marsh 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 Marsh Dam.