Ware Dam dam
Ware Dam
Ware Dam, located in Keosauqua, Iowa, along the Tr- South Chequest Creek, was completed in 2000 by the USDA NRCS with a primary purpose of grade stabilization. This private earth dam stands at 26 feet high and spans 257 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 37 acre-feet. With a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating, Ware Dam serves as a vital infrastructure for water resource management in the region.
Despite not being regulated or inspected by state agencies, Ware Dam plays a crucial role in flood control and sediment retention in the area. The dam's uncontrolled spillway and soil foundation contribute to its structural integrity, ensuring the safety of surrounding communities and ecosystems. As a key component of the local water management system, Ware Dam exemplifies the importance of private initiatives in safeguarding our water resources and mitigating the impacts of climate change.
With its strategic location and efficient design, Ware Dam remains a cornerstone of sustainable water resource management in Davis County, Iowa. As climate change continues to pose challenges to water availability and quality, structures like Ware Dam demonstrate the proactive measures that can be taken to address these threats. By prioritizing grade stabilization and risk management, Ware Dam stands as a testament to the innovative solutions needed to ensure the resilience of our water infrastructure in the face of a changing climate.
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 Ware Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Fox River At Bloomfield | 7 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River At Keosauqua | 7,370 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River At Ottumwa | 7,220 cfs | → |
| Chariton River Near Moulton | 56 cfs | → |
| Cedar Creek Near Oakland Mills | 55 cfs | → |
| Chariton River At Livonia | 45 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ware Dam.
Boat launches
- Cliffland Road Wapello County
- Van Buren County
- Jersey Avenue Van Buren County
- Jefferson Street Viaduct Ottumwa
- Lake Showme Drive Scotland County
Track Ware 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 Ware Dam
Where does the data for Ware 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 Ware Dam.