Soap Creek Watershed Site 4-90a dam
Soap Creek Watershed Site 4-90a
Soap Creek Watershed Site 4-90a, located in Selma, Iowa, is a locally owned earth dam designed by the USDA NRCS to reduce flood risk in the area. Completed in 2011, this dam stands at a height of 36 feet and spans 420 feet, with a storage capacity of 145 acre-feet. The dam is situated on the Tr to Soap Creek and is regulated by the Iowa DNR, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to ensure its proper functioning.
With a low hazard potential and a condition assessment of "Not Rated," Soap Creek Watershed Site 4-90a serves as an important piece of infrastructure for flood risk reduction in the region. The dam has a spillway width of 22 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 336 cubic feet per second. Its primary purpose is flood risk reduction, with a normal storage capacity of 28 acre-feet and a drainage area of 0.49 square miles. The dam is constructed of earth and stone materials and is supported by a soil foundation, making it a sturdy and reliable structure for managing water resources in the area.
Overall, Soap Creek Watershed Site 4-90a plays a crucial role in protecting the surrounding community from flooding events and ensuring the safe management of water resources in the region. With oversight from the Iowa DNR and support from the USDA NRCS, this dam stands as a testament to effective collaboration between local and state agencies in addressing climate-related challenges and safeguarding the environment for future generations.
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 4-90a -- 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 | → |
| Cedar Creek Near Bussey | 1,070 cfs | → |
| Chariton River At Livonia | 45 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Soap Creek Watershed Site 4-90a.
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 4-90a 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 4-90a
Where does the data for Soap Creek Watershed Site 4-90a 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 4-90a.