Perkey Dam dam
Perkey Dam
Perkey Dam is a privately owned structure located in Marion, Iowa, near the Red Rock Reservoir. Completed in 1972, this Earth dam serves multiple purposes including fire protection and providing a small fish pond. With a height of 23 feet and a length of 418 feet, the dam has a normal storage capacity of 24 acre-feet and a maximum storage capacity of 89 acre-feet. The dam is regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations.
Situated on the TR-Whitebreast Creek, Perkey Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is classified as having a moderate risk level, indicating the need for ongoing monitoring and risk management measures. The dam's spillway is uncontrolled, and it has not been modified since its completion. While the condition assessment is currently listed as "Not Rated," the dam is subject to state permitting, inspection, and enforcement to uphold safety standards and protect the surrounding environment.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Perkey Dam presents an intriguing case study of a privately owned structure with public implications. As a part of the overall water management system in the region, understanding the design, purpose, and regulatory oversight of Perkey Dam sheds light on the complex interplay between human intervention and natural systems. With its location in a scenic area near the Red Rock Reservoir, Perkey Dam represents a balancing act between water resource management, ecological considerations, and community needs.
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 Perkey Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| English Creek Near Knoxville | 239 cfs | → |
| White Breast Creek Near Dallas | 805 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River Near Pella | 19,200 cfs | → |
| Cedar Creek Near Bussey | 489 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River Near Tracy | 19,200 cfs | → |
| South River Near Ackworth | 895 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Perkey Dam.
Track Perkey 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 Perkey Dam
Where does the data for Perkey 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 Perkey Dam.