Adam Dam dam
Adam Dam
Adam Dam, located in Richland, Iowa, is a privately owned structure primarily serving the purpose of grade stabilization. Designed by Stephen I. Patrick and French-Reneker Associates, this earth dam stands at a height of 32 feet and was completed in 2017. With a storage capacity of 121 acre-feet, it plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area.
Managed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Adam Dam is regulated, permitted, and inspected by state authorities to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations. Despite being rated as having low hazard potential and not yet assessed for condition, the dam serves as an essential infrastructure for water management in Jefferson County, Iowa. With a spillway width of 10 feet and a maximum discharge of 23 cubic feet per second, Adam Dam plays a significant role in mitigating flood risks and enhancing water resource sustainability in the region.
As a key component of the local water infrastructure, Adam Dam contributes to the overall water management strategy in the area. With its strategic location and design, this dam serves as a critical asset for grade stabilization and water storage. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the role of structures like Adam Dam is essential for ensuring sustainable water management practices in the face of changing climate patterns and increasing water demands.
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 Adam Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Skunk River Near Sigourney | 3,630 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River At Ottumwa | 21,400 cfs | → |
| Cedar Creek Near Oakland Mills | 2,420 cfs | → |
| Big Creek Near Mt. Pleasant | 148 cfs | → |
| English River At Kalona | 3,320 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River At Keosauqua | 22,200 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Adam Dam.
Boat launches
- County Road V5g Keokuk County
- W15 / 330th Avenue Keokuk County
- Dogwood Avenue Washington County
- Cliffland Road Wapello County
- Jefferson Street Viaduct Ottumwa
- Van Buren County
Campgrounds
- Manhattan Bridge Access
- Skunk River Access
- Lake Darling State Park Campground
- Lake Darling State Park
- Brinton Timber
- Chacauqua River Access
More reservoirs
Track Adam 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 Adam Dam
Where does the data for Adam 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 Adam Dam.