Camp Arrowhead Dam dam
Camp Arrowhead Dam
Camp Arrowhead Dam, located in Wapello, Iowa, along the TR-DES MOINES RIVER, was completed in 1958 for recreational purposes. The earth dam stands at 36 feet in height and spans 450 feet in length, providing a surface area of 15 acres and a drainage area of 0.39 square miles. Managed by a private owner, the dam is regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and undergoes regular state inspections and enforcement.
Despite its low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, Camp Arrowhead Dam has not been rated for its condition. The dam's spillway, of uncontrolled type, has a width of 0 feet, with no outlet gates or associated structures. The dam's maximum storage capacity is 460 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 225 acre-feet. While its last inspection was conducted in 1986, the dam has not been assessed for its condition since then.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Camp Arrowhead Dam presents an intriguing case study of a recreational earth dam in Iowa. As a privately owned structure with state regulation and oversight, the dam's management and maintenance practices, as well as its response to potential risks and emergencies, offer valuable insights into the preservation and sustainable use of water resources in the region.
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 Camp Arrowhead Dam -- 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 | → |
| Des Moines River At Keosauqua | 22,200 cfs | → |
| Chariton River Near Moulton | 1,030 cfs | → |
| Chariton River Near Rathbun | 412 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Camp Arrowhead Dam.
Boat launches
- Cliffland Road Wapello County
- Jefferson Street Viaduct Ottumwa
- County Road V5g Keokuk County
- Van Buren County
- Mahaska County
- Jersey Avenue Van Buren County
Track Camp Arrowhead 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 Camp Arrowhead Dam
Where does the data for Camp Arrowhead 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 Camp Arrowhead Dam.