Lake Halice Dam dam
Lake Halice Dam
Lake Halice Dam, located in Urbandale, Iowa, is a private-owned structure regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Completed in 1961, this earth dam stands at 27 feet tall and spans a length of 1100 feet, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 120 acre-feet. The primary purpose of this dam is for recreation, offering a surface area of 9 acres for water enthusiasts to enjoy activities like boating and fishing.
Despite its significant hazard potential, Lake Halice Dam has been assessed as satisfactory in condition, with inspections carried out every five years to ensure its safety. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 3 feet and is situated on the North Walnut Creek tributary. The risk assessment for this structure is moderate, emphasizing the importance of ongoing risk management measures to mitigate any potential threats and ensure the safety of downstream communities.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Lake Halice Dam serves as a fascinating case study of a privately-owned recreational dam in Iowa. With its location in the Rock Island District and under the jurisdiction of the state regulatory agency, this dam highlights the importance of proper maintenance and inspection protocols to safeguard both the environment and public safety. As climate change continues to impact water resources, understanding the resilience of structures like Lake Halice Dam becomes increasingly crucial in adapting to future challenges and ensuring sustainable water management practices.
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 Lake Halice Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Walnut Creek At Des Moines | 101 cfs | → |
| Raccoon River At 63rd Street At Des Moines | 3,100 cfs | → |
| Beaver Creek Near Grimes | 643 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River Near Saylorville | 4,250 cfs | → |
| Raccoon River At Fleur Drive | 3,040 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River At 2nd Avenue | 5,350 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Halice Dam.
Boat launches
- Country Club Boulevard Clive
- Northwest 70th Avenue Johnston
- Raccoon River Park Trail West Des Moines
- Prospect Road Des Moines
- Neal Smith Trail Polk County
- Walnut Woods Drive West Des Moines
Track Lake Halice 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 Lake Halice Dam
Where does the data for Lake Halice 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 Significant 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 Lake Halice Dam.