Big Hollow Dam dam
Big Hollow Dam
Big Hollow Dam in Burlington, Iowa, is a significant earth dam completed in 2008 for the primary purpose of recreation. Managed by the local government, the dam stands at a height of 60 feet and has a storage capacity of 5942 acre-feet, with a surface area of 178 acres and a drainage area of 7.5 square miles. Situated on Big Hollow Creek, the dam is regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and is inspected regularly to ensure its safety and satisfactory condition.
The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled with a width of 3 feet, and it has a significant hazard potential. Despite this, the risk assessment for Big Hollow Dam is moderate, with a satisfactory condition assessment as of June 2020. The dam poses no immediate threat, but it is crucial for stakeholders and water resource enthusiasts to stay informed about its management and potential risks to ensure the continued safety and functionality of this vital water resource in Des Moines County, 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 Big Hollow Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Skunk River At Augusta | 9,200 cfs | → |
| Iowa River At Wapello | 14,600 cfs | → |
| Big Creek Near Mt. Pleasant | 84 cfs | → |
| Henderson Creek Near Oquawka | 277 cfs | → |
| Pope Creek Near Keithsburg | 98 cfs | → |
| Edwards River Near New Boston | 222 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Big Hollow Dam.
Boat launches
- High Street Burlington
- Des Moines County
- Schuyler Street Oquawka
- Diversion Channel Des Moines County
- Putney's Landing Access Road Henderson County
- 78th Street Louisa County
Campgrounds
- Big Hollow Creek Park
- Geode State Park Campground
- Geode State Park
- Upper Augusta Skunk River Access
- Grays Landing
- Welter Recreation Park
More reservoirs
Track Big Hollow 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 Big Hollow Dam
Where does the data for Big Hollow 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 Big Hollow Dam.