Burnham Dam dam
Burnham Dam
Burnham Dam, located in Lucas County, Iowa, along the Des Moines River, was completed in 2002 for the primary purposes of fire protection, stock, and small fish pond. This privately-owned earth dam stands at a height of 26 feet and has a length of 780 feet, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 136 acre-feet. The dam is regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and is regularly inspected to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations.
The dam's spillway is uncontrolled with a width of 2 feet, and it has a low hazard potential with a moderate risk assessment rating. The surrounding area has a drainage area of 0.42 square miles, and the reservoir covers a surface area of 9.2 acres. Despite not having an official condition assessment, the dam is considered to be in satisfactory condition. The Burnham Dam serves as an important water resource for the local community and contributes to the overall management of water resources in the region.
With its strategic location and purposeful design, Burnham Dam plays a vital role in water management and conservation efforts along the TR-North Cedar Creek. As a key structure in the Kansas City District, the dam provides valuable benefits for fire protection, livestock, and recreational fishing activities. Its completion marked a significant milestone in ensuring water security and sustainability in the area, underscoring the importance of responsible dam construction and maintenance practices for climate resilience and water resource management.
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 Burnham Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chariton River Near Chariton | 4 cfs | → |
| White Breast Creek Near Dallas | 28 cfs | → |
| English Creek Near Knoxville | 5 cfs | → |
| Cedar Creek Near Bussey | 24 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River Near Tracy | 6,910 cfs | → |
| South Fork Chariton River Near Promise City | 9 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Burnham Dam.
Boat launches
- Red Haw Nature Trail Lucas County
- County Road S70 Appanoose County
- Husky Place Appanoose County
- Avian Court Appanoose County
- Hornet Place Appanoose County
Campgrounds
- Red Haw State Park Campground
- Miami Lake Park
- Cedar Creek Access
- Honey Creek State Park Campground
- Ivans - Red Rock Lake
- Howell Station - Red Rock Lake
More reservoirs
Track Burnham 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 Burnham Dam
Where does the data for Burnham 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 Burnham Dam.