White Dam dam
White Dam
White Dam, located in Dubuque, Iowa, was completed in 2007 and serves multiple purposes including fire protection and as a small fish pond. This privately owned earth dam stands at 37 feet tall and spans 500 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 38 acre-feet. Situated on TR-Catfish Creek, the dam is regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, ensuring state jurisdiction, permitting, inspection, and enforcement measures are in place.
With a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating, White Dam presents a manageable but important aspect of water resource management in the area. The dam's uncontrolled spillway and soil foundation contribute to its structural design, which aligns with its intended purposes. While the dam is not currently rated for its condition, ongoing inspections and potential Emergency Action Plans may be in development to ensure the safety and functionality of the dam for the surrounding community.
Managed by the NRCS and situated in the Detroit District, White Dam serves as a valuable asset for local fire protection and aquatic wildlife conservation efforts. As climate change continues to impact water resources, understanding and maintaining infrastructure like White Dam will be crucial for adapting to changing environmental conditions and ensuring the resilience of water systems in the region.
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 White Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sinsinawa River Near Menominee | 21 cfs | → |
| North Fork Maquoketa River Near Fulton | 329 cfs | → |
| Grant River At Burton | 241 cfs | → |
| Platte River Near Rockville | 182 cfs | → |
| Maquoketa River Near Maquoketa | 1,110 cfs | → |
| Apple River Near Hanover | 79 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near White Dam.
Boat launches
- Chavenelle Road Dubuque
- Boat Ramp Road East Dubuque
- Admiral Sheehy Drive Dubuque
- A Y Macdonald Park
- Massey Marina Lane Dubuque County
- Mississippi River -- Sandy Hook Landing
Campgrounds
- Swiss Valley County Park Campground
- Swiss Valley County Park
- Miller Riverview City Park
- Heritage Campground & Pond
- Miller Riverview Park & Campground
- Dubuque Yacht Basin And Rv Park
Fishing spots
Track White 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 White Dam
Where does the data for White 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 White Dam.