Cole Dam dam
Cole Dam
Cole Dam, located in Rome, Iowa, was completed in 1991 and serves multiple purposes including fire protection and as a small fish pond. The dam, with a height of 27 feet and a length of 350 feet, was designed by the USDA NRCS and is owned and regulated by a private entity in coordination with the Iowa DNR. Situated on the TR-Middle Walnut Creek, the dam has a low hazard potential and is classified as an earth dam with a soil foundation.
With a normal storage capacity of 27 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 42 acre-feet, Cole Dam covers a surface area of 3.8 acres and drains a 0.06 square mile area. The dam does not have a controlled spillway and is not equipped with outlet gates or locks. While the condition of the dam has not been rated, it is inspected, permitted, and regulated by the Iowa DNR to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations. The risk assessment for Cole Dam is moderate, with measures in place to manage any potential risks associated with the structure.
Overall, Cole Dam plays a crucial role in providing water resource management and protection in the Jefferson County area of Iowa. With its strategic location and multiple purposes, the dam serves as a valuable asset for the community while also maintaining a low hazard potential and adhering to state regulatory standards. Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate the design, function, and management of Cole Dam as an important component of the local ecosystem.
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 Cole Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar Creek Near Oakland Mills | 1,340 cfs | → |
| Big Creek Near Mt. Pleasant | 43 cfs | → |
| North Skunk River Near Sigourney | 1,540 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River At Keosauqua | 18,100 cfs | → |
| English River At Kalona | 646 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River At Ottumwa | 16,400 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cole Dam.
Boat launches
- Dogwood Avenue Washington County
- W15 / 330th Avenue Keokuk County
- County Road V5g Keokuk County
- Van Buren County
- Vine Avenue Washington County
- Cliffland Road Wapello County
Track Cole 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 Cole Dam
Where does the data for Cole 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 Cole Dam.