Boswell Dam dam
Boswell Dam
Boswell Dam, located in Lucas County, Iowa, was completed in the year 2000 and serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock, and a small fish pond. The dam is privately owned and regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place. Situated on the TR-Chariton River, the earth dam stands at a height of 28 feet with a length of 528 feet, providing a storage capacity of 159 acre-feet and a surface area of 10.5 acres.
Despite being categorized as having a low hazard potential, Boswell Dam is considered to have a moderate risk level, with no official condition assessment rating available. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and is designed to withstand various hydraulic pressures. The risk management measures, emergency action plan, and inundation maps for the dam are currently not publicly available. With its strategic location and purposeful design, Boswell Dam serves as a vital water resource structure in the region, contributing to both local water management and environmental conservation efforts.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Boswell Dam offers a unique opportunity to study the intersection of water infrastructure, environmental stewardship, and risk management. As a key component of the local water system, the dam's impact on the surrounding ecosystem and its ability to mitigate flooding risks are important areas for further exploration. With its relatively recent construction and ongoing state oversight, Boswell Dam represents a modern approach to water resource management in the region, highlighting the importance of sustainable infrastructure development in the face of changing climate patterns and water demands.
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 Boswell Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chariton River Near Chariton | 4 cfs | → |
| South Fork Chariton River Near Promise City | 9 cfs | → |
| White Breast Creek Near Dallas | 28 cfs | → |
| South River Near Ackworth | 52 cfs | → |
| Thompson River At Davis City | 126 cfs | → |
| Middle River Near Indianola | 225 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Boswell Dam.
Boat launches
- Red Haw Nature Trail Lucas County
- Us 34 Clarke County
- Pershing Street Warren County
- 118th Avenue Warren County
- County Road S70 Appanoose County
Track Boswell 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 Boswell Dam
Where does the data for Boswell 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 Boswell Dam.