South Lake Dam dam
South Lake Dam
South Lake Dam, located in Linn County, Iowa, was completed in 1993 and serves as a private structure primarily used for fire protection, as well as a stock or small fish pond. This earth dam stands at a height of 28 feet and has a length of 352 feet, with a storage capacity of 47 acre-feet. The dam is situated on the TR-Spring Creek, and its purpose is regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, South Lake Dam is considered to have a moderate risk level, indicating the need for careful monitoring and risk management measures. The dam's condition is currently marked as "Not Rated," suggesting a need for further assessment to ensure its structural integrity. While the dam has not been inspected in recent years, it is subject to state regulation, inspection, permitting, and enforcement to maintain safety standards and prevent potential hazards.
Overall, South Lake Dam presents an interesting case study for water resource and climate enthusiasts, showcasing the importance of private dam structures in providing essential services such as fire protection and water storage. With its location in a rural area and its role in supporting local ecosystems, the dam serves as a valuable resource that requires ongoing attention and maintenance to mitigate risks and safeguard its surrounding environment.
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 South Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wapsipinicon River Near Anamosa | 967 cfs | → |
| Iowa River Below Coralville Dam Nr Coralville | 2,140 cfs | → |
| Rapid Creek Near Iowa City | 10 cfs | → |
| Cedar River At Cedar Rapids | 4,490 cfs | → |
| Hoover Crk At Hoover Nat.Hist.Site West Branch | 2 cfs | → |
| Iowa River At Iowa City | 2,160 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near South Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Cedar Park Road Linn County
- White Oak Avenue Northeast 1273, Cedar Township
- Kepler Drive Linn County
- Lake Mcbride Road East Big Grove Township
- Cottage Reserve Road Northeast Big Grove Township
- Lake Mcbride Road Northeast Big Grove Township
Campgrounds
- Palisades Kepler State Park
- Squaw Creek County Park
- Lake Macbride State Park Campground
- Wapsipinicon State Park Campground
- Wapsipinicon State Park
- Matsell Bridge Natural Area
More reservoirs
Track South Lake 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 South Lake Dam
Where does the data for South Lake 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 South Lake Dam.