Soap Creek Watershed Site 4-79 dam
Soap Creek Watershed Site 4-79
Soap Creek Watershed Site 4-79 in Appanoose County, Iowa, is a local government-owned dam designed by the USDA NRCS to reduce flood risk along a tributary to Buzzard Creek. Completed in 2007, this earth dam stands at 33 feet high and spans 360 feet in length, offering a storage capacity of 96 acre-feet. With a drainage area of 0.34 square miles and a maximum discharge of 96 cubic feet per second, this structure plays a crucial role in managing water flow in the region.
Located in Selma, Iowa, this dam is regulated by the Iowa DNR and serves as a vital flood risk reduction measure for the community. With a low hazard potential and a condition assessment of "Not Rated," Soap Creek Watershed Site 4-79 remains a key component of the local water resource management system. While details such as the last inspection date and emergency action plan status are not available, the dam's primary purpose and design specifications highlight its importance in protecting the area from potential flooding events.
Managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, this dam exemplifies the collaborative efforts between local and federal agencies to safeguard the environment and communities from the impacts of extreme weather events. As climate change continues to pose challenges to water resources, structures like Soap Creek Watershed Site 4-79 play a critical role in mitigating flood risks and ensuring the resilience of the region's water infrastructure.
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 Soap Creek Watershed Site 4-79 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chariton River Near Rathbun | 412 cfs | → |
| Chariton River Near Moulton | 1,030 cfs | → |
| Fox River At Bloomfield | 7 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River At Ottumwa | 21,400 cfs | → |
| South Fork Chariton River Near Promise City | 284 cfs | → |
| Cedar Creek Near Bussey | 1,070 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Soap Creek Watershed Site 4-79.
Boat launches
- 200th Avenue Appanoose County
- Isthmus Place Appanoose County
- Hornet Place Appanoose County
- Avian Court Appanoose County
- Islandview Place Appanoose County
- Husky Place Appanoose County
Track Soap Creek Watershed Site 4-79 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 Soap Creek Watershed Site 4-79
Where does the data for Soap Creek Watershed Site 4-79 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 Soap Creek Watershed Site 4-79.