Vos Dam dam
Vos Dam
Vos Dam, located in Union Mills, Iowa, is a privately owned earth dam built in 1968 by the USDA NRCS. This dam serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock, and small fish pond. With a height of 30 feet and a length of 484 feet, Vos Dam has a storage capacity of 46 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 3.7 acres. It is regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and is inspected regularly to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations.
The dam, situated on the TR-North Skunk River, is designed to have uncontrolled spillways and is classified as having a low hazard potential. Its condition is currently not rated, but it has a moderate risk assessment score of 3. Despite not being owned or funded by federal agencies, Vos Dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the area. Climate enthusiasts and water resource professionals alike can appreciate the significance of this structure in providing essential services to the local community while also taking into account its environmental impact and risk management measures.
As an integral part of the local landscape, Vos Dam stands as a testament to the collaboration between private owners, state regulators, and design agencies in ensuring the safety and functionality of water infrastructure. With its strategic location and purposeful design, the dam serves as a key asset for fire protection, livestock management, and ecological preservation along the North Skunk River. Its moderate risk assessment underscores the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to safeguard both the dam and the surrounding environment, highlighting the complex interplay between human activities and natural resources 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 Vos Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Skunk River Near Oskaloosa | 1,230 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River Near Tracy | 6,910 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River Near Pella | 6,780 cfs | → |
| Cedar Creek Near Bussey | 24 cfs | → |
| North Skunk River Near Sigourney | 319 cfs | → |
| English Creek Near Knoxville | 5 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Vos Dam.
Boat launches
- Mahaska County
- 198th Place Marion County
- Jade Street Jasper County
- Marion County
- Rock Creek East Street Jasper County
- 216th Street Iowa County
Campgrounds
- Union Mills Access
- Robertson Access
- Glendale Access
- Diamond Lake County Park
- Lake Keomah State Park
- Lake Keomah State Park Campground
More reservoirs
Track Vos 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 Vos Dam
Where does the data for Vos 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 Vos Dam.