Miller Dam dam
Miller Dam
Miller Dam, located in Dallas County, Iowa, was completed in 1992 and serves as a vital resource for fire protection, stock, and small fish pond purposes. Owned privately, this earth dam stands at a height of 28 feet and spans 425 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 80 acre-feet. The dam is situated on the TR-Raccoon River and is regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, ensuring its safety and compliance with state standards.
Despite its low hazard potential, Miller Dam plays a crucial role in water resource management for the surrounding area. With a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, the dam has not been formally rated for its condition but is inspected, permitted, and regulated by state authorities. The dam's location in West Des Moines provides a valuable water source for both agricultural and recreational activities, highlighting its importance in sustaining local ecosystems and communities.
Managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Miller Dam is a testament to the collaborative efforts between private owners and state agencies to protect and preserve water resources in Iowa. As a significant feature on the landscape, this dam not only provides essential services but also contributes to the overall resilience of the region in the face of changing climate patterns. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Miller Dam stands as a symbol of the intersection between human intervention and natural processes in shaping our environment.
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 Miller Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Raccoon River Near West Des Moines | 1,320 cfs | → |
| Raccoon River At 63rd Street At Des Moines | 3,100 cfs | → |
| Raccoon River At Van Meter | 2,970 cfs | → |
| Walnut Creek At Des Moines | 101 cfs | → |
| Raccoon River At Fleur Drive | 3,040 cfs | → |
| North River Near Norwalk | 804 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Miller Dam.
Boat launches
- 360th Street Dallas County
- Walnut Woods Drive West Des Moines
- Country Club Boulevard Clive
- Raccoon River Park Trail West Des Moines
- 120th Street Madison County
- Kruidenier Trail Des Moines
Track Miller 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 Miller Dam
Where does the data for Miller 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 Miller Dam.