West Branch Flood Control Dam dam
West Branch Flood Control Dam
The West Branch Flood Control Dam, located in West Branch, Iowa, was completed in 2012 with the primary purpose of flood risk reduction. This earth dam, standing at 24 feet in height and 600 feet in length, plays a crucial role in protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events. Designed by French Reneker Associates Inc., the dam is regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity.
With a storage capacity of 111 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 3410 cubic feet per second, the West Branch Flood Control Dam provides essential flood protection for the community. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam's condition is assessed as satisfactory, ensuring its readiness to respond to potential emergencies. The dam serves as a critical infrastructure asset in mitigating flood risks and safeguarding the local environment against the impacts of extreme weather events, demonstrating the importance of effective water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region.
Managed by local government authorities, the West Branch Flood Control Dam stands as a testament to the collaborative efforts of state and federal agencies in enhancing flood resilience. With its strategic location in Johnson County, Iowa, the dam serves as a vital component of the region's flood control infrastructure, showcasing the commitment to safeguarding communities and ecosystems from the threats of climate change. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the West Branch Flood Control Dam stands as a symbol of proactive risk management and sustainable development practices in the face of evolving environmental challenges.
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 West Branch Flood Control Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Hoover Crk At Hoover Nat.Hist.Site West Branch | 2 cfs | → |
| Rapid Creek Near Iowa City | 17 cfs | → |
| Iowa River Below Coralville Dam Nr Coralville | 2,280 cfs | → |
| Iowa River At Iowa City | 2,500 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek Near Coralville | 112 cfs | → |
| Old Mans Creek Near Iowa City | 207 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near West Branch Flood Control Dam.
Boat launches
- White Oak Avenue Northeast 1273, Cedar Township
- Cottage Reserve Road Northeast Big Grove Township
- Mehaffey Bridge Road Northeast , 52333 Iowa
- Falcon Lane Big Grove Township
- Anglers Point Road Northeast Big Grove Township
- Poplar Avenue Northeast Big Grove Township
Track West Branch Flood Control 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 West Branch Flood Control Dam
Where does the data for West Branch Flood Control 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 High 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 West Branch Flood Control Dam.