Mather Dam dam
Mather Dam
Mather Dam, located in Blanchard, Iowa, is a privately owned structure designed by the USDA NRCS with a primary purpose of grade stabilization. Completed in 2012, this earth dam stands at a height of 33 feet and spans a length of 614 feet, with a storage capacity of 60 acre-feet and a drainage area of 0.28 square miles. The dam serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock and small fish pond management, in addition to grade stabilization along a tributary to Tarkio Creek.
With a low hazard potential and a condition assessment of "Not Rated," Mather Dam is regulated and inspected by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Despite lacking an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) and updated emergency contacts, the dam meets state permitting and inspection requirements. The dam does not have a spillway and is equipped with outlet gates. Surrounding the dam is a surface area of 5 acres, providing vital water resource management and flood control benefits to the local community.
Mather Dam, a vital infrastructure for water resource management in Page County, Iowa, is a testament to the collaborative efforts between private ownership and government agencies in ensuring the safety and sustainability of our water resources. As climate change continues to impact water availability and quality, dams like Mather play a crucial role in protecting communities from floods, enhancing water storage capacity, and supporting aquatic ecosystems. The dam's completion in 2012 signifies a modern approach to dam construction, incorporating environmental considerations and multiple benefits for the local environment and economy.
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 Mather Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nodaway River At Clarinda | 778 cfs | → |
| Nodaway River Near Burlington Jct | 1,530 cfs | → |
| Nishnabotna River Above Hamburg | 2,230 cfs | → |
| Tarkio River At Fairfax Mo | 540 cfs | → |
| West Nishnabotna River At Randolph | 823 cfs | → |
| East Nishnabotna River At Red Oak | 404 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mather Dam.
Boat launches
- 165 Street Atchison County
- Peru Boat Ramp
- Taylor County
- 220th Street 31599, Nodaway County
- Brownville Riverside City Park
- 245th Street 31943, Nodaway County
Track Mather 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 Mather Dam
Where does the data for Mather 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 Mather Dam.