Little River Watershed Site 51-1 dam
Little River Watershed Site 51-1
Little River Watershed Site 51-1, located in Decatur County, Iowa, is a recreational dam managed by the local government. Designed by the USDA NRCS and completed in 2005, this earth dam stands at a height of 30 feet and spans a length of 863 feet, with a storage capacity of 1827 acre-feet. The dam, situated on Britton Branch, serves the primary purpose of recreation and offers a surface area of 60.5 acres for outdoor activities.
Managed by the Iowa DNR, this dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced to ensure safety and compliance with state regulations. With a significant hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating, the dam's condition is deemed satisfactory as of the latest assessment in June 2019. The spillway of the dam is uncontrolled, with a width of 3 feet, and it is located in a scenic area with easy access for visitors to enjoy the recreational opportunities provided by the reservoir.
The Little River Watershed Site 51-1 is a valuable asset for the community, offering a picturesque location for outdoor enthusiasts to engage in recreational activities while also serving important water resource management functions. With its well-maintained condition and regulatory oversight, this dam provides a safe and enjoyable environment for visitors to appreciate the beauty of the Britton Branch and surrounding natural landscape.
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 Little River Watershed Site 51-1 -- 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 | → |
| South Fork Chariton River Near Promise City | 284 cfs | → |
| Chariton River Near Chariton | 1,480 cfs | → |
| South River Near Ackworth | 1,990 cfs | → |
| Thompson River At Trenton | 13,900 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Little River Watershed Site 51-1.
Track Little River Watershed Site 51-1 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 Little River Watershed Site 51-1
Where does the data for Little River Watershed Site 51-1 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 Little River Watershed Site 51-1.