Big Wyacondah Watershed Site 28 dam
Big Wyacondah Watershed Site 28
Big Wyacondah Watershed Site 28, located in Iowa, is a key water resource managed by the local government for fire protection, stock, and small fish pond purposes, as well as flood risk reduction. Built in 1976 by USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at 29 feet tall and spans 450 feet, with a storage capacity of 65 acre-feet. The dam serves the TR-SOUTH WYACONDA river or stream, providing critical water management in the region.
Despite its modest size, Big Wyacondah Watershed Site 28 plays a vital role in the local ecosystem and community resilience. The dam's low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment make it a reliable infrastructure for water control and conservation. Managed by the Iowa DNR, the dam undergoes regular state inspections, enforcement, and permitting, ensuring its structural integrity and compliance with regulatory standards.
With a surface area of 9 acres and a drainage area of 0.23 square miles, Big Wyacondah Watershed Site 28 contributes to flood risk reduction efforts and water supply management in the region. Its uncontrolled spillway, soil foundation, and location within the Kansas City District highlight the intersection of water resource management, climate resilience, and community safety in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Big Wyacondah Watershed Site 28 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Fox River At Bloomfield | 7 cfs | → |
| Chariton River Near Moulton | 1,030 cfs | → |
| Chariton River At Livonia | 45 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River At Ottumwa | 21,400 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River At Keosauqua | 22,200 cfs | → |
| Chariton River Near Rathbun | 412 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Big Wyacondah Watershed Site 28.
Boat launches
- Cliffland Road Wapello County
- Lake Showme Drive Scotland County
- Us 136 Schuyler County
- Jersey Avenue Van Buren County
- Jefferson Street Viaduct Ottumwa
- Van Buren County
Track Big Wyacondah Watershed Site 28 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 Big Wyacondah Watershed Site 28
Where does the data for Big Wyacondah Watershed Site 28 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 Big Wyacondah Watershed Site 28.