Three Mile Creek Watershed Site 3 dam
Three Mile Creek Watershed Site 3
Three Mile Creek Watershed Site 3, located in Union County, Iowa, is a significant earth dam structure built in 1970 by the USDA NRCS. The dam serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock, small fish pond, and flood risk reduction. With a height of 33 feet and a length of 420 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 51 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 3.8 acres. It is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, ensuring its safety and compliance with state regulations.
Despite being classified as low hazard potential, the site has a moderate risk assessment score of 3. The dam's condition is currently not rated, and there is no information available on emergency action plans or risk management measures. The structure is not owned or funded by federal agencies, but it is maintained and operated by local government authorities. With its crucial role in water resource management and flood control in the Three Mile Creek watershed, the dam at Site 3 plays a vital role in protecting the surrounding area from potential water-related disasters.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Three Mile Creek Watershed Site 3 offers a fascinating case study in dam infrastructure and management. The dam's design, construction, and regulatory oversight provide valuable insights into the complexities of water resource management and the importance of maintaining critical infrastructure for both practical and environmental purposes. As a key component of the watershed's ecosystem, understanding and monitoring the dam at Site 3 is essential for ensuring the sustainability and resilience of this vital water resource in Union County, Iowa.
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 Three Mile Creek Watershed Site 3 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Thompson River At Davis City | 8,610 cfs | → |
| Raccoon River At Van Meter | 2,980 cfs | → |
| South Raccoon River At Redfield | 750 cfs | → |
| North River Near Norwalk | 1,200 cfs | → |
| Raccoon River Near West Des Moines | 1,320 cfs | → |
| Middle River Near Indianola | 1,120 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Three Mile Creek Watershed Site 3.
Track Three Mile Creek Watershed Site 3 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 Three Mile Creek Watershed Site 3
Where does the data for Three Mile Creek Watershed Site 3 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 Three Mile Creek Watershed Site 3.