Koethe Dam #2 dam
Koethe Dam #2
Koethe Dam #2, located in Warren County, Iowa, was completed in 2001 and serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock, and small fish pond. The earth dam has a height of 26 feet and a length of 445 feet, with a storage capacity of 20 acre-feet. Situated on TR- Middle Creek via Lake Colchester, the dam is regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and is subject to regular inspections and enforcement measures to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations.
Despite its low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, Koethe Dam #2 has not been rated for its condition assessment. The dam's spillway is uncontrolled, with a width of 1 foot, and it is not equipped with outlet gates or locks. While the dam meets guidelines for emergency action plans, details such as the last inspection date and emergency contact information are not specified in the data. Overall, Koethe Dam #2 remains a vital resource for water management in the area, providing essential services while being subject to ongoing risk management measures to ensure its continued functionality and safety.
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 Koethe Dam #2 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North River Near Norwalk | 804 cfs | → |
| Raccoon River At 63rd Street At Des Moines | 3,100 cfs | → |
| Raccoon River Near West Des Moines | 1,320 cfs | → |
| Walnut Creek At Des Moines | 101 cfs | → |
| Raccoon River At Fleur Drive | 3,040 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River Blw Raccoon Riv At Des Moines | 9,310 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Koethe Dam #2.
Boat launches
- Walnut Woods Drive West Des Moines
- Raccoon River Park Trail West Des Moines
- County Park Des Moines
- Kruidenier Trail Des Moines
- Prospect Road Des Moines
- Birdland Park Boat Launch
Track Koethe 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 Koethe Dam #2
Where does the data for Koethe 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 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 Koethe Dam #2.