Sloppy Dam dam
Sloppy Dam
Sloppy Dam, located in Marshall County, Iowa, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1999 for fire protection, stock, and small fish pond purposes. The dam stands at a height of 28 feet and spans 404 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 64 acre-feet. The dam is regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and undergoes regular inspection, enforcement, and permitting to ensure its safe operation.
Despite its low hazard potential, Sloppy Dam is considered to have a moderate risk level and is not currently rated for its condition. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway type and has a surface area of 4.8 acres, serving the Timber Creek tributary. The dam is situated within a drainage area of 0.17 square miles and is designed with soil foundations. While there are no associated locks or outlet gates, the dam remains an essential resource for water conservation and management in the region.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, monitoring the condition and maintenance of Sloppy Dam is crucial for ensuring its continued effectiveness in providing fire protection and supporting local wildlife. With its moderate risk level and regulatory oversight by the Iowa DNR, efforts to assess and address any potential hazards or concerns surrounding the dam are essential to safeguarding the surrounding community and ecosystem.
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 Sloppy Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Timber Creek Near Marshalltown | 88 cfs | → |
| Iowa River At Marshalltown | 768 cfs | → |
| Richland Creek Near Haven | 34 cfs | → |
| Indian Creek Near Mingo | 213 cfs | → |
| South Skunk River At Colfax | 631 cfs | → |
| Walnut Creek Near Hartwick | 33 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sloppy Dam.
Boat launches
- C Avenue Tama County
- Marsh Avenue Marshall County
- Rock Creek East Street Jasper County
- Bb Avenue Tama County
- Richards Drive 2165, Tama County
- Jade Street Jasper County
Track Sloppy 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 Sloppy Dam
Where does the data for Sloppy 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 Sloppy Dam.