Straight Dam dam
Straight Dam
Straight Dam, located in Missouri Valley, Iowa, is a privately owned earth dam designed by the USDA NRCS with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction. Completed in 2011, the dam stands at a height of 39 feet and spans a length of 520 feet. With a storage capacity of 73 acre-feet, the dam serves multiple purposes including fish and wildlife pond creation, grade stabilization, and recreation on its 2-acre surface area.
Managed by the Iowa DNR, Straight Dam is regulated and permitted by the state, with regular inspections and enforcement measures in place. Despite its low hazard potential and current condition assessment of "Not Rated", the dam plays a crucial role in protecting the surrounding area and aiding in water resource management. While lacking an emergency action plan and updated risk assessment, Straight Dam remains a vital structure for the local community and the tributary to Willow Creek.
Straight Dam's construction was funded by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, showcasing a collaboration between federal and state agencies to address flood risk and water resource needs in the region. As a part of the Rock Island District, the dam provides flood protection, habitat enhancement, and recreational opportunities, demonstrating the importance of sustainable water management practices 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 Straight Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Boyer River At Logan | 429 cfs | → |
| Soldier River At Pisgah | 123 cfs | → |
| Little Sioux River Near Turin | 1,590 cfs | → |
| Monona-Harrison Ditch Near Turin | 193 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Decatur | 26,000 cfs | → |
| Big Papillion Cr | 39 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Straight Dam.
Boat launches
- Desoto Bend Nwr
- Blair City Boat Ramp
- Pelican Point
- Summit Lake
- Dodge Park Road , 68112:68152 Omaha
- Main Boat Ramp
Track Straight 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 Straight Dam
Where does the data for Straight 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 Straight Dam.