Whispering Pines Dam dam
Whispering Pines Dam
Whispering Pines Dam, located in Muscatine, Iowa, is a privately owned structure designed by Robert K. Simmering and completed in 2006. The dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, providing a serene spot for visitors to enjoy activities such as fishing, boating, and picnicking. With a height of 28 feet and a length of 335 feet, the dam holds a storage capacity of 53 acre-feet, offering a tranquil retreat in the midst of nature.
Managed and regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Whispering Pines Dam is considered to have a significant hazard potential with a moderate risk assessment rating. The spillway, with a width of 2 feet, is uncontrolled, allowing for excess water to flow out when needed. While the dam's condition is currently not rated, inspections, enforcement, and permitting are all carried out by the state agency to ensure the safety and functionality of the structure. Despite its potential risks, the dam continues to provide a valuable recreational resource for the local community and visitors alike.
Situated on Tr- Mad Creek, Whispering Pines Dam enhances the natural beauty of the area, offering a peaceful environment for outdoor enthusiasts to explore and enjoy. With its earth structure and soil foundation, the dam blends seamlessly into the landscape, creating a harmonious balance between human intervention and nature. As climate change continues to impact water resources, structures like Whispering Pines Dam play a crucial role in providing both recreational opportunities and vital water management functions for the surrounding ecosystem.
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 Whispering Pines Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar River Near Conesville | 6,160 cfs | → |
| Edwards River Near New Boston | 264 cfs | → |
| Iowa River At Wapello | 10,200 cfs | → |
| Duck Creek At 110th Ave At Davenport | 10 cfs | → |
| Hoover Crk At Hoover Nat.Hist.Site West Branch | 2 cfs | → |
| Iowa River Near Lone Tree | 3,230 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Whispering Pines Dam.
Boat launches
- Muscatine County
- Public Boat Ramp Rock Island County
- 120th Street Louisa County
- F Avenue 9777, Louisa County
- 110th Avenue Buffalo
Track Whispering Pines 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 Whispering Pines Dam
Where does the data for Whispering Pines 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 Significant 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 Whispering Pines Dam.