Easter Lake Retention Basin #1 dam
Easter Lake Retention Basin #1
Easter Lake Retention Basin #1, located in Des Moines, Iowa, is a crucial infrastructure designed by Snyder & Associates to reduce flood risk in the area. Completed in 2005, this earth dam stands at 18 feet high and spans 260 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 20 acre-feet. The dam serves as a key component in managing the flow of Tr-Yeader Creek, a tributary that runs through Polk County.
With a primary purpose of flood risk reduction, Easter Lake Retention Basin #1 is state-regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The dam has a significant hazard potential and has been assessed as being in satisfactory condition as of September 2010. Although the dam has not undergone recent inspections or modifications, it is crucial for maintaining the safety and stability of the surrounding area, especially during periods of heavy rainfall and potential flooding events.
While the dam currently meets safety guidelines and moderate risk levels, ongoing monitoring and potential risk management measures will be essential to ensure its continued effectiveness in protecting the community and environment. As a vital piece of infrastructure in the region, Easter Lake Retention Basin #1 serves as a testament to the proactive approach taken by local government to mitigate flood risks and safeguard water resources in the face of changing climatic 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 Easter Lake Retention Basin #1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines River Blw Raccoon Riv At Des Moines | 9,310 cfs | → |
| Raccoon River At Fleur Drive | 3,040 cfs | → |
| North River Near Norwalk | 804 cfs | → |
| Middle River Near Indianola | 743 cfs | → |
| Fourmile Creek At Des Moines | 217 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River At 2nd Avenue | 5,350 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Easter Lake Retention Basin #1.
Boat launches
- County Park Des Moines
- Southeast Vandalia Drive Pleasant Hill
- Kruidenier Trail Des Moines
- Polk County
- Birdland Park Boat Launch
Track Easter Lake Retention Basin #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 Easter Lake Retention Basin #1
Where does the data for Easter Lake Retention Basin #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 Easter Lake Retention Basin #1.