Cedar Falls Milldam dam
Cedar Falls Milldam
Cedar Falls Milldam, located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, is a historic gravity dam built in 1939 for recreational purposes along the Cedar River. The dam stands at a height of 12 feet and spans 350 feet, providing a storage capacity of 1,394 acre-feet and a surface area of 230 acres. While primarily used for recreation, the dam is also state-regulated and subject to inspections and enforcement by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
With a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, Cedar Falls Milldam serves as a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts and climate advocates alike to enjoy the scenic beauty of the Cedar River. The dam's uncontrolled spillway and soil foundation add to its historic charm, attracting visitors from near and far to appreciate its engineering marvel. The dam's location within Black Hawk County offers a tranquil setting for fishing, boating, and wildlife observation, making it a valuable asset to the community.
Managed by the City of Cedar Falls, Cedar Falls Milldam exemplifies the harmonious balance between human recreation and environmental preservation. Despite its age, the dam continues to play a significant role in the local ecosystem and serves as a reminder of the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of climate change. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Cedar Falls Milldam stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of responsible stewardship of our natural resources.
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 Cedar Falls Milldam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar River At Cedar Falls | 4,070 cfs | → |
| Cedar River At Waterloo | 4,330 cfs | → |
| Cedar River At Janesville | 1,150 cfs | → |
| West Fork Cedar River At Finchford | 780 cfs | → |
| Beaver Creek At New Hartford | 320 cfs | → |
| Black Hawk Creek At Hudson | 304 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cedar Falls Milldam.
Boat launches
- Big Lake Loop Cedar Falls
- Wyth Road 3224, Waterloo
- Cedar Valley Lakes Trail Waterloo
- Leo P Rooff Expressway Waterloo
- Finchford Road Black Hawk County
- Mitchell Avenue Waterloo
Campgrounds
- Big Woods Lake
- Black Hawk County Park
- George Wyth State Park
- Thunder Woman Park
- Deerwood City Park
- Roadman Roadside Park
Fishing spots
Track Cedar Falls Milldam 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 Cedar Falls Milldam
Where does the data for Cedar Falls Milldam 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 Cedar Falls Milldam.