Bowden Dam dam
Bowden Dam
Bowden Dam, located in Webster County, Iowa, serves multiple purposes including fire protection and creating a small fish pond. Constructed in 1997 by the NRCS, this private dam stands at a height of 37 feet and spans 162 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 44 acre-feet, the dam sits along the TR-Des Moines River, providing essential water resources for the local community.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, Bowden Dam is regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, indicating its reliance on natural flow patterns to manage excess water. With a moderate risk assessment rating, measures for risk management are in place to mitigate any potential issues that may arise.
Bowden Dam not only plays a crucial role in fire protection and supporting local wildlife through its stock pond, but it also contributes to the overall water management system in the area. With its strategic location along the Des Moines River and its importance for the surrounding community, Bowden Dam stands as a testament to effective water resource management and climate adaptation efforts in Iowa.
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 Bowden Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines River Near Stratford | 2,870 cfs | → |
| Boone River Near Webster City | 364 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River At Fort Dodge | 2,170 cfs | → |
| South Skunk River Near Ames | 241 cfs | → |
| Squaw Creek At Ames | 148 cfs | → |
| South Skunk River Below Squaw Creek Near Ames | 424 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bowden Dam.
Boat launches
- County Road D46 Webster County
- Webster County
- Vasse Avenue Webster County
- Copperas Trail Webster County
- Fraser
Campgrounds
- Brushy Creek State Recreation Area Campground
- Dolliver Memorial State Park Campground
- Des Moines Ymca Camp
- Camp Hantesa
- Ledges State Park Campground
- Hopi
More reservoirs
Track Bowden 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 Bowden Dam
Where does the data for Bowden 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 Bowden Dam.