Blanchard Dam dam
Blanchard Dam
Blanchard Dam, located in Lee County, Iowa, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 2006 for grade stabilization purposes along a tributary to the Skunk River. With a height of 37 feet and a length of 660 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 70 acre-feet and a drainage area of 0.1 square miles. Despite its relatively low hazard potential and a condition assessment that is not yet rated, Blanchard Dam is regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations.
Managed by the USDA NRCS, Blanchard Dam serves as a vital structure for flood control and water resource management in the area. The dam's primary purpose of grade stabilization helps to protect the surrounding land from erosion and maintain the integrity of the waterway. As part of its operation, the dam has spillway widths of 10 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 110 cubic feet per second, providing essential flood protection for the community of Augusta and the surrounding areas in Lee County.
Although Blanchard Dam has not been rated for its condition assessment, it is equipped with emergency action plans and low-risk management measures to ensure the safety of nearby residents in case of a sudden failure or flooding event. With its strategic location and design, the dam plays a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance of the Skunk River watershed and enhancing water quality in the region. As a key infrastructure for water resource management and climate resilience, Blanchard Dam stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable infrastructure development in safeguarding our natural environment.
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 Blanchard Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Skunk River At Augusta | 2,090 cfs | → |
| Cedar Creek Near Oakland Mills | 53 cfs | → |
| Big Creek Near Mt. Pleasant | 6 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River At St. Francisville | 6,460 cfs | → |
| Fox River At Wayland | 42 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River At Keosauqua | 7,090 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Blanchard Dam.
Boat launches
- High Street Burlington
- Des Moines County
- Schuyler Street Oquawka
- Diversion Channel Des Moines County
- Van Buren County
- Putney's Landing Access Road Henderson County
Track Blanchard 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 Blanchard Dam
Where does the data for Blanchard 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 Blanchard Dam.