Fort Atkinson Milldam dam
Fort Atkinson Milldam
Fort Atkinson Milldam, located on the Turkey River in Winneshiek County, Iowa, is a historic gravity dam completed in 1914 primarily for recreation purposes. The dam stands at a height of 11 feet with a length of 255 feet, creating a storage capacity of 60 acre-feet and covering a surface area of 11 acres. While the dam has a low hazard potential and is currently rated as not assessed for condition, it falls under the regulatory jurisdiction of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
With its picturesque location and historical significance, Fort Atkinson Milldam offers visitors a tranquil setting for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and wildlife observation. The dam's uncontrolled spillway and soil foundation contribute to its unique structural design, attracting water resource and climate enthusiasts alike. Despite its moderate risk assessment rating, the dam's emergency action plan status and risk management measures remain unspecified, raising questions about its long-term sustainability and safety measures in the face of changing environmental conditions.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, the preservation and management of structures like Fort Atkinson Milldam become crucial for maintaining not only recreational opportunities but also the safety and well-being of surrounding communities. With further assessment and planning, this iconic dam can continue to serve as a valuable asset for both local residents and visitors, showcasing the harmonious relationship between nature and human innovation in water resource management.
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 Fort Atkinson Milldam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey River At Spillville | 183 cfs | → |
| Turkey River Near Eldorado | 628 cfs | → |
| Upper Iowa River At Decorah | 494 cfs | → |
| Upper Iowa River At Bluffton | 335 cfs | → |
| Wapsipinicon River Near Tripoli | 276 cfs | → |
| Upper Iowa River Near Dorchester | 778 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Fort Atkinson Milldam.
Boat launches
- Winneshiek County
- Sunset Road Fayette County
- Nature Road 14177, Fayette County
- Valley Avenue Howard County
- River Street Clermont
- Canoe Road Fayette County
Campgrounds
- Lake Meyer County Park Campground
- Goeken County Park Campground
- Goeken Co Park
- Gouldsburg County Park
- Gouldsburg County Park Campground
- Pulpit Rock Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- The Town Of Bluffton To The "Lower" Dam, Near The Confluence Of Coon Creek
- The "Lower" Dam, Near The Confluence Of Coon Creek To Lane's Bridge
- The Minnesota-Iowa State Border To Ends Near The Town Of Bluffton, Iowa
- Western Boundary Of Effigy Mounds National Monument To Boundary Of Effigy Mounds National Monument
- The Big Green River To The River's Mouth At The Mississippi River
Track Fort Atkinson 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 Fort Atkinson Milldam
Where does the data for Fort Atkinson 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 Fort Atkinson Milldam.