Upper Beaver Subwatershed Site 50-1 dam
Upper Beaver Subwatershed Site 50-1
Upper Beaver Subwatershed Site 50-1, located in Little Sioux, Iowa, is a local government-owned earth dam completed in 1968 by the USDA NRCS with a primary purpose of fire protection, stock, or small fish pond. Situated along TR-Beaver Creek, this dam serves multiple functions including flood risk reduction. With a dam height of 49 feet and a storage capacity of 63 acre-feet, this structure covers a surface area of 2.5 acres and drains a 0.16 square mile watershed.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, Upper Beaver Subwatershed Site 50-1 is subject to state regulation, inspection, and enforcement by the Iowa DNR. The dam is designed with an uncontrolled spillway type and has not been assigned a condition assessment rating. Additionally, the risk assessment for this site is classified as moderate, indicating a potential for increased risk. While the dam has not been modified in recent years, it remains an essential asset for water resource management in the area, highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its continued safety and functionality.
As an integral part of the water infrastructure in Monona County, Upper Beaver Subwatershed Site 50-1 plays a crucial role in protecting the surrounding community from flooding and providing essential water resources for various purposes. With its strategic location and design, this dam represents a significant investment in water management and conservation efforts in the region. Continued collaboration between local government agencies, the USDA NRCS, and the Iowa DNR will be essential to uphold the integrity of this structure and ensure its continued effectiveness in mitigating flood risks and supporting local water 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 Upper Beaver Subwatershed Site 50-1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Sioux River Near Turin | 1,680 cfs | → |
| Monona-Harrison Ditch Near Turin | 187 cfs | → |
| Maple River At Mapleton | 264 cfs | → |
| Soldier River At Pisgah | 125 cfs | → |
| West Fork Ditch At Hornick | 80 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Decatur | 26,300 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Beaver Subwatershed Site 50-1.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Track Upper Beaver Subwatershed Site 50-1 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 Upper Beaver Subwatershed Site 50-1
Where does the data for Upper Beaver Subwatershed Site 50-1 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 Upper Beaver Subwatershed Site 50-1.