West Fork Big Creek Watershed Site W-11 dam
West Fork Big Creek Watershed Site W-11
West Fork Big Creek Watershed Site W-11 is a local government-owned structure located in Ringgold, Iowa, designed by the USDA NRCS with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction. Completed in 2000, this earthen dam stands at a height of 27 feet and spans a length of 467 feet, providing a storage capacity of 79 acre-feet. The dam is regulated by the Iowa DNR and is subject to state permitting, inspection, and enforcement, ensuring its continued effectiveness in mitigating flood risks in the area.
The West Fork Big Creek Watershed Site W-11 is situated along the TR-Wolf Creek, within the Rock Island District, and is monitored for its hazard potential, which is rated as low. Although the condition assessment is currently not rated, the risk assessment categorizes the structure as moderate. Overall, the dam serves as a crucial infrastructure for flood protection, with a surface area of 3.7 acres and a drainage area of 0.26 square miles. With its strategic location and design features, this site plays a significant role in managing water resources and climate-related challenges in the region, ensuring the safety and security of the surrounding communities.
As an integral component of the local flood risk reduction strategy, West Fork Big Creek Watershed Site W-11 offers valuable insights into sustainable water resource management practices. With its focus on fire protection, stock, and small fish pond maintenance alongside flood risk reduction, the dam exemplifies the multifaceted approach required to address the complex challenges posed by climate change and water scarcity. As stakeholders continue to prioritize the resilience of water infrastructure, sites like W-11 play a crucial role in safeguarding communities and ecosystems from the impacts of extreme weather events and ensuring a sustainable water future for generations to come.
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 West Fork Big Creek Watershed Site W-11 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Thompson River At Davis City | 8,610 cfs | → |
| East Fork Big Creek Near Bethany | 684 cfs | → |
| East Fork 102 River At Bedford | 1 cfs | → |
| One Hundred And Two River At Maryville | 3,360 cfs | → |
| Thompson River At Trenton | 13,900 cfs | → |
| Grand River Near Gallatin | 28,000 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near West Fork Big Creek Watershed Site W-11.
Track West Fork Big Creek Watershed Site W-11 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 West Fork Big Creek Watershed Site W-11
Where does the data for West Fork Big Creek Watershed Site W-11 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 West Fork Big Creek Watershed Site W-11.