Rolling Hills Dam dam
Rolling Hills Dam
Rolling Hills Dam, located in Tiffin, Iowa, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 2002 for the primary purpose of recreation. The dam stands at a height of 20 feet and spans 440 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 51 acre-feet. Situated on TR-Clear Creek, the dam serves as a popular spot for water resource and climate enthusiasts to enjoy outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, and picnicking.
Managed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Rolling Hills Dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced to ensure its safety and functionality. Despite being rated as having a significant hazard potential, the dam is currently in a not rated condition assessment. While it meets moderate risk assessment guidelines, there are no emergency action plans prepared or updated for the dam. With its scenic location and recreational opportunities, Rolling Hills Dam is a valuable resource for the community and a focal point for water conservation and climate awareness efforts in the area.
With its uncontrolled spillway, the dam poses both recreational and safety benefits and challenges. The surrounding area offers a surface area of 3.8 acres and serves as a habitat for various wildlife species. While the dam has not undergone recent modifications or inspection updates, its risk management measures and potential for inundation remain important factors to consider for water resource and climate enthusiasts frequenting the site.
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 Rolling Hills Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Clear Creek Near Oxford | 24 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek Near Coralville | 31 cfs | → |
| Iowa River Below Coralville Dam Nr Coralville | 1,780 cfs | → |
| Iowa River At Iowa City | 1,790 cfs | → |
| Old Mans Creek Near Iowa City | 116 cfs | → |
| Rapid Creek Near Iowa City | 10 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rolling Hills Dam.
Boat launches
- Mehaffey Bridge Road Northeast , 52333 Iowa
- Falcon Lane Big Grove Township
- Anglers Point Road Northeast Big Grove Township
- Poplar Avenue Northeast Big Grove Township
- Lake Mcbride Road Northeast Big Grove Township
Track Rolling Hills 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 Rolling Hills Dam
Where does the data for Rolling Hills 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 Rolling Hills Dam.