Bruehahn Dam dam
Bruehahn Dam
Located in Clayton County, Iowa, the Bruehahn Dam was completed in 1971 by the USDA NRCS for fire protection, stock, and small fish pond purposes. This earth dam stands at a height of 24 feet and stretches 410 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 53 acre-feet. The dam is regulated by the Iowa DNR and is subject to state inspection, enforcement, and permitting.
Situated on TR- Hickory Creek near the Mississippi River, the Bruehahn Dam serves as a low hazard potential structure with a moderate risk assessment rating. Its uncontrolled spillway and soil foundation ensure the safety of the surrounding area, while the dam's condition remains unrated. The dam's design and construction were funded and overseen by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, making it a vital resource for water management in the region.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Bruehahn Dam offers a fascinating insight into the intersection of infrastructure, conservation, and environmental stewardship. With its strategic location, purposeful design, and regulatory oversight, this dam represents a sustainable solution for water storage and management in the state of Iowa. Its significance in ensuring fire protection, stock maintenance, and ecological balance underscores the importance of responsible water resource management in the face of changing climate patterns.
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 Bruehahn Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow River At Ion | 261 cfs | → |
| Bloody Run Creek Near Marquette | 32 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Mcgregor | 21,700 cfs | → |
| Turkey River Above French Hollow Cr At Elkader | 1,040 cfs | → |
| Volga River At Littleport | 476 cfs | → |
| Turkey River Near Eldorado | 582 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bruehahn Dam.
Boat launches
- James Drive Allamakee County
- Old Mission Drive 1815, Allamakee County
- Fawn Hollow Road Clayton County
- Mississippi River -- Villa Louis Boat Landing
- Agate Road 10568, Clayton County
- Mississippi River -- St. Feriole Slough
Campgrounds
- Gateway Campground And Park
- Spook Cave Campground
- Bloody Run Campground
- Bloody Run Park
- Big Spring Campground
- Big Spring Campsite
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Western Boundary Of Effigy Mounds National Monument To Boundary Of Effigy Mounds National Monument
- The "Lower" Dam, Near The Confluence Of Coon Creek To Lane's Bridge
- The Big Green River To The River's Mouth At The Mississippi River
- The Town Of Bluffton To The "Lower" Dam, Near The Confluence Of Coon Creek
- The Minnesota-Iowa State Border To Ends Near The Town Of Bluffton, Iowa
Track Bruehahn 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 Bruehahn Dam
Where does the data for Bruehahn 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 Bruehahn Dam.