Wakonda Country Club Dam dam
Wakonda Country Club Dam
Located in Des Moines, Iowa, the Wakonda Country Club Dam is a privately owned structure that serves primarily for recreational purposes. Built in 1995, this earth dam stands at a height of 28 feet and stretches 110 feet in length, creating a surface area of 1.5 acres. Situated along the TR- RACCOON RIVER, this dam has a storage capacity of 21 acre-feet and a drainage area of 0.09 square miles. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is considered to have a moderate risk level.
Managed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the Wakonda Country Club Dam is subject to state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with no outlet gates or associated structures. Although the condition assessment is not rated, the dam is regularly monitored for any potential risks or hazards. While the dam poses a moderate risk, there are currently no specific risk management measures in place.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Wakonda Country Club Dam offers an intriguing case study of a recreational earth dam in Iowa. With its unique design features and location along the Raccoon River, this dam provides a glimpse into the intersection of human infrastructure and natural systems. As efforts continue to assess and manage the dam's risks, it serves as a reminder of the importance of sustainable water resource management and climate resilience in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Wakonda Country Club Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Raccoon River At Fleur Drive | 3,040 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River Blw Raccoon Riv At Des Moines | 9,310 cfs | → |
| Raccoon River At 63rd Street At Des Moines | 3,100 cfs | → |
| Walnut Creek At Des Moines | 101 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River At 2nd Avenue | 5,350 cfs | → |
| North River Near Norwalk | 804 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wakonda Country Club Dam.
Boat launches
- Kruidenier Trail Des Moines
- County Park Des Moines
- Birdland Park Boat Launch
- Prospect Road Des Moines
- Raccoon River Park Trail West Des Moines
- Walnut Woods Drive West Des Moines
Track Wakonda Country Club 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 Wakonda Country Club Dam
Where does the data for Wakonda Country Club 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 Wakonda Country Club Dam.