Nashua Milldam dam
Nashua Milldam
Nashua Milldam, located in Nashua, Iowa along the Cedar River, was completed in 1917 and serves as a recreational site for water resource and climate enthusiasts. Managed by the local government, the dam stands at a height of 20 feet with a gravity design and rock foundation. With a storage capacity of 5,242 acre-feet and a surface area of 405 acres, the dam provides opportunities for leisure activities in the surrounding area.
Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, Nashua Milldam is regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to ensure its safety and functionality. The dam features a controlled spillway with a width of 260 feet, and its risk assessment indicates a very high level of risk, possibly due to its age and the potential impact of climate change on water levels in the Cedar River. As a site of historical significance and natural beauty, Nashua Milldam continues to be a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and water resource advocates alike.
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 Nashua Milldam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Cedar River Near Ionia | 232 cfs | → |
| Cedar River At Charles City | 531 cfs | → |
| Cedar River At Waverly | 1,650 cfs | → |
| Wapsipinicon River Near Tripoli | 168 cfs | → |
| Shell Rock River At Shell Rock | 1,240 cfs | → |
| Cedar River At Janesville | 1,440 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Nashua Milldam.
Boat launches
- 140th Street Bremer County
- Pembroke Avenue Chickasaw County
- Adams Parkway Waverly
- Atlas Avenue Bremer County
- Finchford Road Black Hawk County
- Howard County
Campgrounds
- Cedar View Park Campground
- North Cedar Park
- Twin Ponds Co Park - West
- Twin Ponds Co Park - East
- Alcock Park
- Haus County Park
Fishing spots
Track Nashua 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 Nashua Milldam
Where does the data for Nashua 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 Nashua Milldam.