Upper Locust Creek Watershed Site L-23 dam
Upper Locust Creek Watershed Site L-23
Situated in Wayne County, Iowa, the Upper Locust Creek Watershed Site L-23 is a local government-owned earth dam completed in 1995 for purposes including fire protection, stock, small fish pond maintenance, and flood risk reduction. The dam stands at a height of 22 feet and stretches 406 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 52 acre-feet. With a surface area of 3.4 acres and a drainage area of 0.15 square miles, the dam serves as a crucial resource for the surrounding area in terms of water management and conservation.
Managed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the Upper Locust Creek Watershed Site L-23 has been designated as a low hazard potential structure with a moderate risk assessment score of 3. While the dam has not been inspected or rated for its condition, it is nonetheless equipped with an uncontrolled spillway system. The site's location near the TR-West Fork Locust Creek and its role in safeguarding against potential inundation make it an essential component of the local water resource infrastructure, highlighting its importance for both water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region.
With its strategic placement in West Liberty, MO, the Upper Locust Creek Watershed Site L-23 serves as a critical point of contact for emergency management and risk mitigation. Although not currently rated for its condition, the dam's construction and design by the USDA NRCS underscore its importance in providing essential services such as flood risk reduction and fire protection. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the site's role in water management and conservation efforts becomes increasingly crucial for ensuring the sustainability and resilience of the surrounding 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 Upper Locust Creek Watershed Site L-23 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Fork Chariton River Near Promise City | 82 cfs | → |
| Chariton River Near Rathbun | 19 cfs | → |
| Chariton River Near Chariton | 34 cfs | → |
| Chariton River Near Moulton | 58 cfs | → |
| Chariton River At Livonia | 45 cfs | → |
| Thompson River At Davis City | 133 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Locust Creek Watershed Site L-23.
Boat launches
- County Road S70 Appanoose County
- Islandview Place Appanoose County
- Isthmus Place Appanoose County
- Husky Place Appanoose County
- Hornet Place Appanoose County
- Avian Court Appanoose County
Track Upper Locust Creek Watershed Site L-23 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 Upper Locust Creek Watershed Site L-23
Where does the data for Upper Locust Creek Watershed Site L-23 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 Upper Locust Creek Watershed Site L-23.