Jefferson Park Watershed Site 3 dam
Jefferson Park Watershed Site 3
Located in Ottumwa, Iowa, Jefferson Park Watershed Site 3 is a local government-owned flood risk reduction structure managed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Built in 1976 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 42 feet and has a length of 720 feet, providing a storage capacity of 576 acre-feet. The dam is situated on the TR-Des Moines River and is designed to regulate water flow and mitigate flooding in the area.
With a surface area of 9.9 acres and a drainage area of 0.71 square miles, Jefferson Park Watershed Site 3 plays a crucial role in protecting the surrounding community from high hazard potential associated with flooding. The dam's satisfactory condition assessment and moderate risk rating indicate its reliability in flood risk reduction. The structure is regularly inspected by the Iowa DNR, with the last inspection conducted in June 2019, ensuring its effectiveness in safeguarding the area from potential disasters.
As a key component in the flood risk reduction strategy for Ottumwa, Jefferson Park Watershed Site 3 serves as a vital infrastructure in managing water resources and climate-related challenges in the region. Its presence highlights the importance of proactive measures in enhancing resilience to natural disasters and underscores the collaborative efforts between local government agencies and federal entities like the USDA NRCS in safeguarding communities against potential flood threats.
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 Jefferson Park Watershed Site 3 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines River At Ottumwa | 21,400 cfs | → |
| Fox River At Bloomfield | 7 cfs | → |
| North Skunk River Near Sigourney | 3,630 cfs | → |
| Chariton River Near Rathbun | 412 cfs | → |
| Chariton River Near Moulton | 1,030 cfs | → |
| South Skunk River Near Oskaloosa | 4,620 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Jefferson Park Watershed Site 3.
Boat launches
- Jefferson Street Viaduct Ottumwa
- Cliffland Road Wapello County
- Mahaska County
- County Road V5g Keokuk County
- 200th Avenue Appanoose County
- Isthmus Place Appanoose County
Track Jefferson Park 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 Jefferson Park Watershed Site 3
Where does the data for Jefferson Park 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 High 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 Jefferson Park Watershed Site 3.