Forsythe Dam dam
Forsythe Dam
Forsythe Dam, located in Bloomfield, Iowa, along the TR-FOX RIVER, was completed in 1998 by the USDA NRCS. This earth dam stands at 27 feet high and stretches 440 feet in length, serving primarily for fire protection, stock, or small fish pond purposes. With a storage capacity of 100 acre-feet and a surface area of 6.9 acres, the dam is regulated by the Iowa DNR and falls under private ownership.
Despite its low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, Forsythe Dam has not been rated for its condition assessment. With no associated structures and a controlled spillway type, the dam's emergency action plan status, inspection frequency, and risk management measures remain undisclosed. The Kansas City District oversees the dam's operations, while the primary source agency responsible for its regulation and enforcement is the Iowa DNR, ensuring its compliance with state permitting and inspection requirements.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Forsythe Dam presents an intriguing case study of a privately owned structure designed for multiple purposes in a rural setting. Its location in Davis County, Iowa, and its relatively small drainage area of 0.2 square miles highlight the importance of proper maintenance and monitoring for a sustainable water management strategy. As interest in dam safety and environmental conservation grows, the future of Forsythe Dam and its impact on the local ecosystem will be closely monitored by stakeholders and regulatory agencies alike.
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 Forsythe Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Fox River At Bloomfield | 7 cfs | → |
| Chariton River Near Moulton | 58 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River At Ottumwa | 7,510 cfs | → |
| Chariton River Near Rathbun | 19 cfs | → |
| Chariton River At Livonia | 45 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River At Keosauqua | 7,540 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Forsythe Dam.
⚓ Boat launches
- Cliffland Road Wapello County
- Jefferson Street Viaduct Ottumwa
- 200th Avenue Appanoose County
- Isthmus Place Appanoose County
- Islandview Place Appanoose County
- Hornet Place Appanoose County
Track Forsythe 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 Forsythe Dam
Where does the data for Forsythe 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 Forsythe Dam.