Wedeking Dam dam
Wedeking Dam
Wedeking Dam, located in Clarksville, Iowa, is a private earth dam completed in 1971 by the USDA NRCS with a primary purpose of fire protection, stock, or small fish pond. The dam stands at 20 feet high and spans 800 feet across the TR- Shell Rock River, with a storage capacity of 54 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is state-regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and undergoes regular inspections, permitting, and enforcement to ensure its structural integrity and safety.
Managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Wedeking Dam serves as a vital water resource for the surrounding area, offering storage for fire protection and supporting local wildlife through its small fish pond function. The dam's location in Butler County, Iowa, in the Rock Island District, makes it a key component of the region's water management infrastructure. With a moderate risk rating, the dam's risk assessment highlights the importance of ongoing monitoring and risk management measures to safeguard against potential hazards and ensure the continued effectiveness of the structure.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will appreciate Wedeking Dam's role in providing essential water storage and support for local ecosystems in Iowa. With its uncontrolled spillway and state-regulated status, the dam represents a balance between human needs and environmental stewardship. As a privately owned structure, Wedeking Dam showcases the collaboration between private entities and government agencies to manage and protect water resources for the benefit of both people and nature.
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 Wedeking Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Shell Rock River At Shell Rock | 1,240 cfs | → |
| Cedar River At Waverly | 1,650 cfs | → |
| West Fork Cedar River At Finchford | 539 cfs | → |
| Cedar River At Janesville | 1,440 cfs | → |
| Beaver Creek At New Hartford | 205 cfs | → |
| Cedar River At Cedar Falls | 3,760 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wedeking Dam.
Boat launches
- Atlas Avenue Bremer County
- 245th Street Butler County
- 140th Street Bremer County
- Adams Parkway Waverly
- Finchford Road Black Hawk County
- Big Lake Loop Cedar Falls
Campgrounds
- Shell Rock Rec Area
- Cedar Bend Park
- North Cedar Park
- Thunder Woman Park
- Cedar View Park Campground
- Black Hawk County Park
Fishing spots
Track Wedeking 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 Wedeking Dam
Where does the data for Wedeking 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 Wedeking Dam.