Silver Lake Dam dam
Silver Lake Dam
Silver Lake Dam, located in Delaware County, Iowa, was completed in 1948 and serves primarily for recreation purposes. The earth dam stands at a height of 25 feet and has a length of 200 feet, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 415 acre-feet. The dam is regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and has a low hazard potential, with a moderate risk assessment rating.
Situated on the Maquoketa River, the Silver Lake Dam is owned by the local government and is subject to state jurisdiction, permitting, inspections, and enforcement. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 5 feet and has not been rated for its condition assessment. Despite its moderate risk level, the dam has not had an Emergency Action Plan prepared, and no updates have been made in recent years regarding emergency contacts or inundation maps.
Overall, Silver Lake Dam provides a vital resource for recreational activities in the area, while also contributing to the management of water resources in the region. With its scenic location and importance for the local community, the dam serves as a reminder of the intersection between human development and environmental conservation, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and maintenance to ensure its safety and functionality for years to come.
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 Silver Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Maquoketa River At Manchester | 525 cfs | → |
| Turkey River At Garber | 1,590 cfs | → |
| Volga River At Littleport | 476 cfs | → |
| Wapsipinicon River Near Anamosa | 2,920 cfs | → |
| Wapsipinicon River At Independence | 1,950 cfs | → |
| Turkey River Above French Hollow Cr At Elkader | 1,040 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Silver Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Us 20 Manchester
- West Lake Trail Delaware County
- Sutton Road Linn County
- Central City Trail Linn County
Campgrounds
- Silver Lake County Park
- Turtle Creek County Park
- Baileys Ford
- Pin Oak Co Park
- Coffins Grove Park Campground
- Coffins Grove
Fishing spots
Track Silver Lake 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 Silver Lake Dam
Where does the data for Silver Lake 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 Silver Lake Dam.