Stills Dam dam
Stills Dam
Stills Dam, located in Indianola, Iowa, is a privately owned earth dam that serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock, and small fish pond. Completed in 1995, this dam stands at a height of 24 feet and has a length of 560 feet, with a storage capacity of 63 acre-feet. Situated on TR-WALNUT CREEK, the dam is regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and is subject to regular inspections and enforcement measures to ensure its safety and functionality.
Despite being categorized as having a low hazard potential, Stills Dam is considered to have a moderate risk level, with a risk assessment rating of 3. The dam has not been rated for its condition assessment, but it meets regulatory guidelines and has not had any emergency action plans prepared or revised. With its uncontrolled spillway type and soil foundation, Stills Dam provides essential water resource management for the surrounding area, while also contributing to the local ecosystem and wildlife habitats.
Overall, Stills Dam serves as a vital infrastructure for water resource management in Warren County, Iowa, offering not only fire protection and agricultural benefits but also recreational opportunities for the community. As climate change continues to impact water resources, dams like Stills Dam play a crucial role in adapting to changing conditions and ensuring the sustainable use of water for future generations. With its regulated operations and moderate risk level, Stills Dam stands as an important asset in the region's water resource and climate resilience efforts.
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 Stills Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South River Near Ackworth | 52 cfs | → |
| Middle River Near Indianola | 225 cfs | → |
| North River Near Norwalk | 222 cfs | → |
| White Breast Creek Near Dallas | 28 cfs | → |
| Raccoon River Near West Des Moines | 1,300 cfs | → |
| Raccoon River At 63rd Street At Des Moines | 1,590 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Stills Dam.
Boat launches
- Us 34 Clarke County
- Pershing Street Warren County
- 118th Avenue Warren County
- 120th Street Madison County
- County Park Des Moines
- Walnut Woods Drive West Des Moines
Track Stills 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 Stills Dam
Where does the data for Stills 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 Stills Dam.