Rooks Dam dam
Rooks Dam
Rooks Dam, located in Union, Iowa, along the TR-Iowa River, was completed in 1959 with a primary purpose of fire protection, stock, or small fish pond. The dam, owned privately, stands at a height of 38 feet and spans 451 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 140 acre-feet. With a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, Rooks Dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Constructed by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam with a soil foundation serves as a crucial water resource for the surrounding area, offering essential fire protection and agricultural support. Despite not being rated for condition assessment, the dam continues to play a vital role in managing water resources in the region. With its uncontrolled spillway and limited drainage area of 0.4 square miles, Rooks Dam provides a sustainable solution for water storage and management in Hardin County, Iowa.
As an integral part of the local water infrastructure, Rooks Dam ensures the safety and well-being of the community by mitigating flood risks and providing a reliable source of water for various purposes. With its strategic location and efficient design, this dam stands as a testament to effective water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Rooks Dam serves as a fascinating case study in sustainable water infrastructure development and management.
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 Rooks Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Fork Iowa River Ne Of New Providence | 155 cfs | → |
| Iowa River At Marshalltown | 727 cfs | → |
| Timber Creek Near Marshalltown | 86 cfs | → |
| Beaver Creek At New Hartford | 246 cfs | → |
| Black Hawk Creek At Hudson | 191 cfs | → |
| West Fork Cedar River At Finchford | 495 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rooks Dam.
Boat launches
- 1st Street Eldora
- Eastwood Drive Eldora
- County Road S56 Hardin County
- River Street 126, Iowa Falls
- Marsh Avenue Marshall County
- Bb Avenue Tama County
Track Rooks 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 Rooks Dam
Where does the data for Rooks 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 Rooks Dam.