Shaw Dam dam
Shaw Dam
Shaw Dam, located in Riverton, Iowa, along the TR-East Nishnabotna River, is a privately owned structure designed by the NRCS with a primary purpose of fire protection, stock, or small fish pond. Completed in 2003, this earth dam stands at a height of 30 feet and spans a length of 560 feet, with a storage capacity of 66 acre-feet. With a surface area of 3.8 acres and a drainage area of 0.62 square miles, Shaw Dam is regulated by the Iowa DNR and undergoes regular state inspections and enforcement.
Despite its low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment rating, Shaw Dam has not been conditionally assessed and lacks an emergency action plan. However, it meets state permitting and regulatory requirements, ensuring its structural integrity and safe operation. Its uncontrolled spillway, with a width of 2 feet, allows for controlled water release when needed. The dam serves as a vital resource for fire protection and livestock watering while providing habitat for small fish species, contributing to the overall ecosystem health of the area.
Shaw Dam, owned and operated by a private entity, plays a crucial role in water resource management in Fremont County, Iowa. With its strategic location and purposeful design, the dam serves multiple functions while maintaining a low risk profile. As a key component of the local watershed, Shaw Dam contributes to the overall resilience of the region's water supply and ecosystem. Climate enthusiasts and water resource managers alike can appreciate the importance of this structure in enhancing both environmental and community well-being in the area.
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 Shaw Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| West Nishnabotna River At Randolph | 823 cfs | → |
| Nishnabotna River Above Hamburg | 2,230 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Nebraska City | 37,500 cfs | → |
| Weeping Water Creek At Union | 64 cfs | → |
| East Nishnabotna River At Red Oak | 404 cfs | → |
| Nodaway River At Clarinda | 778 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Shaw Dam.
Boat launches
- Riverview Boat Ramp
- 165 Street Atchison County
- Peru Boat Ramp
- Us 34;Us 275 Mills County
- Brownville Riverside City Park
- Plattsmouth Boat Ramp
Track Shaw 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 Shaw Dam
Where does the data for Shaw 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 Shaw Dam.