Utesch Dam dam
Utesch Dam
Utesch Dam, located in Cherokee, Iowa, stands as a vital structure designed by the USDA NRCS in 1996 for multiple purposes including fire protection, stock maintenance, and small fish pond management. This private-owned Earth-type dam serves as a crucial resource along TR-WILLOW CREEK, providing a storage capacity of 16 acre-feet with a maximum storage capacity of 12 acre-feet. With a dam height of 33 feet and a length of 270 feet, Utesch Dam plays a significant role in managing water resources in the region.
Despite its low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment rating, Utesch Dam has not undergone a formal condition assessment and has not been inspected or regulated by state agencies. The dam's spillway type is categorized as uncontrolled, indicating the need for continued monitoring and maintenance to ensure its structural integrity and safety. Furthermore, with a drainage area of 0.1 square miles and a surface area of 2 acres, Utesch Dam plays a crucial role in water management for the surrounding area, highlighting the importance of sustainable water resource management practices in the face of changing climate patterns.
As a key component of the local water infrastructure, Utesch Dam serves as a critical resource for the community of Washta and plays a vital role in maintaining water security for agricultural, environmental, and recreational purposes. With its construction overseen by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Utesch Dam's significance extends beyond its primary purposes, serving as a testament to the importance of sustainable water management practices and the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and resilience of water infrastructure in the face of evolving climate conditions.
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 Utesch Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Sioux River At Correctionville | 3,150 cfs | → |
| Floyd River At James | 871 cfs | → |
| Maple River At Mapleton | 617 cfs | → |
| West Fork Ditch At Hornick | 80 cfs | → |
| Floyd River At Alton | 352 cfs | → |
| Little Sioux River At Linn Grove | 2,000 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Utesch Dam.
Track Utesch 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 Utesch Dam
Where does the data for Utesch 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 Utesch Dam.