Fountain Hills Dam #2 dam
Fountain Hills Dam #2
Fountain Hills Dam #2, located in Marion County, Iowa, is a private earth dam completed in 2000 with a height of 26 feet and a length of 430 feet. The dam serves as a critical structure for managing water resources in the area, specifically along the TR- Thunder Creek. With a storage capacity of 54 acre-feet and a surface area of 2.8 acres, the dam plays a significant role in regulating water flow and maintaining water levels in the region.
Despite being privately owned, Fountain Hills Dam #2 falls under the regulatory jurisdiction of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, ensuring that the dam is inspected, permitted, and enforced for compliance with state regulations. The dam has a significant hazard potential and moderate risk level, highlighting the importance of proper risk management measures and emergency preparedness. While the dam's condition is currently not rated, its design by Garden & Associates and its state-regulated status indicate a commitment to its ongoing safety and functionality.
As an essential water infrastructure in the region, Fountain Hills Dam #2 underscores the intersection between water resource management and climate resilience. With its strategic location and purposeful design, the dam plays a crucial role in mitigating flood risks, regulating water flow, and safeguarding the surrounding environment. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the intricacies of dams like Fountain Hills Dam #2 is key to promoting sustainable water practices and enhancing community resilience in the face of changing 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 Fountain Hills Dam #2 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines River Near Pella | 19,200 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River Near Tracy | 19,200 cfs | → |
| English Creek Near Knoxville | 239 cfs | → |
| Cedar Creek Near Bussey | 489 cfs | → |
| South Skunk River Near Oskaloosa | 4,480 cfs | → |
| White Breast Creek Near Dallas | 805 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Fountain Hills Dam #2.
Boat launches
- 198th Place Marion County
- Marion County
- Mahaska County
- Jade Street Jasper County
- Rock Creek East Street Jasper County
Track Fountain Hills Dam #2 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 Fountain Hills Dam #2
Where does the data for Fountain Hills Dam #2 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 Fountain Hills Dam #2.