English Bench Watershed Site 8 dam
English Bench Watershed Site 8
English Bench Watershed Site 8 is a vital water resource site located in Allamakee, Iowa, near the Mississippi River. Owned and regulated by the local government and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, this site serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock, and small fish pond management, as well as flood risk reduction. The dam, completed in 1971, is an earth structure with a height of 34 feet and a storage capacity of 30 acre-feet, offering essential water management for the surrounding area.
Managed by the USDA NRCS, this site is designed to handle low hazard potential with a moderate risk assessment of 3. With a drainage area of 0.17 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in controlling water flow and minimizing potential risks. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition is currently not rated, emphasizing the importance of regular inspections and maintenance to ensure its continued effectiveness in safeguarding the watershed and local community.
With a focus on water management and climate resilience, English Bench Watershed Site 8 stands as a testament to the collaborative efforts of various agencies and stakeholders in protecting and preserving valuable water resources. As a key component in the region's flood risk reduction strategy, this site serves as a model for sustainable water management practices, highlighting the importance of proactive monitoring and maintenance to ensure the long-term viability of our water infrastructure in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 English Bench Watershed Site 8 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Upper Iowa River Near Dorchester | 637 cfs | → |
| Upper Iowa River At Decorah | 398 cfs | → |
| South Fork Root River Near Houston | 182 cfs | → |
| Upper Iowa River At Bluffton | 264 cfs | → |
| Yellow River At Ion | 210 cfs | → |
| Root River Near Houston | 850 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near English Bench Watershed Site 8.
⚓ Boat launches
- Lycurgus Road Allamakee County
- Great River Rd Allamakee County
- Voyageur Highway Houston County
- Army Road Boat Landing
- Millstone Landing Houston County
- Mississippi River -- Blackhawk Upper Access (Near Desoto)
⛺ Campgrounds
- Highland General Store & Campground
- Blackhawk Park - Desoto
- Blackhawk Park Campground
- Blackhawk County Park
- Waukon City Park Campground
- Trollskogen City Park
🎣 Fishing spots
More fishing →🛶 Paddle runs
- The "Lower" Dam, Near The Confluence Of Coon Creek To Lane's Bridge
- The Town Of Bluffton To The "Lower" Dam, Near The Confluence Of Coon Creek
- Western Boundary Of Effigy Mounds National Monument To Boundary Of Effigy Mounds National Monument
- The Minnesota-Iowa State Border To Ends Near The Town Of Bluffton, Iowa
- The Big Green River To The River's Mouth At The Mississippi River
Track English Bench Watershed Site 8 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 English Bench Watershed Site 8
Where does the data for English Bench Watershed Site 8 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 English Bench Watershed Site 8.