Pattison Dam dam
Pattison Dam
Pattison Dam, located in Guttenberg, Iowa, is a privately owned structure that has been regulated and permitted by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Completed in 2008, this earth-type dam stands at a height of 68 feet and spans a length of 558 feet. With a normal storage capacity of 160 acre-feet, the dam serves the primary purpose of "Other," indicating its role in managing water resources for various uses.
The dam's spillway type is classified as "Uncontrolled," with a spillway width of 2 feet. Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment as of 2009, Pattison Dam is subject to moderate risk due to its location along the TR-Mississippi River. The risk management measures for the dam are not specified, suggesting the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its continued safety and functionality in the face of changing environmental conditions.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Pattison Dam offers a fascinating case study in dam construction, regulation, and risk assessment. As a key infrastructure element within the St. Paul District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water flow and storage along the Mississippi River. Its design by Michael Ryan of Howard R. Green Co. highlights the expertise and collaboration required to create sustainable water management solutions in a changing climate.
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 Pattison Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi River At Mcgregor | 21,700 cfs | → |
| Bloody Run Creek Near Marquette | 32 cfs | → |
| Turkey River At Garber | 1,970 cfs | → |
| Turkey River Above French Hollow Cr At Elkader | 1,270 cfs | → |
| Volga River At Littleport | 677 cfs | → |
| Yellow River At Ion | 314 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pattison Dam.
Boat launches
- Mississippi River - River Of The Lakes Landing
- Mississippi River -- Bagley Bottoms Landing
- Mississippi River -- Jays Lake Landing
- Glen Lake/ Mississippi River -- Wyalusing Public Access
- Mississippi River -- Glen Haven Public Access
- Mississippi River -- Wyalusing State Park Boat Access
Campgrounds
- River Of Lakes Riverfront Campground
- Yogi Bear Jelly Stone Campground
- Frenchtown Park
- Wyalusing State Park Campground
- Pikes Peak State Park
- 28e
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Western Boundary Of Effigy Mounds National Monument To Boundary Of Effigy Mounds National Monument
- The Big Green River To The River's Mouth At The Mississippi River
- The "Lower" Dam, Near The Confluence Of Coon Creek To Lane's Bridge
- Lone Rock To The Confluence Of The Green And Wisconsin Rivers
- The Town Of Bluffton To The "Lower" Dam, Near The Confluence Of Coon Creek
Track Pattison 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 Pattison Dam
Where does the data for Pattison 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 Pattison Dam.