Klondike Mill Dam dam
Klondike Mill Dam
Located in Lyon County, Iowa, the Klondike Mill Dam stands as a testament to the importance of water resources and the environment. This privately-owned dam on the Big Sioux River serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a tranquil setting for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy. With a height of 12 feet and a length of 175 feet, the dam provides a storage capacity of 289 acre-feet, contributing to the overall water management of the area.
Managed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the Klondike Mill Dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced to ensure its safety and compliance with state standards. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment remains unrated, emphasizing the need for continued monitoring and maintenance. As an integral part of the local landscape, the dam symbolizes the intersection of human intervention and natural ecosystems, highlighting the delicate balance necessary for sustainable water resource management in the face of climate change challenges.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Klondike Mill Dam serves as a focal point for understanding the complexities of dam infrastructure and its impact on the surrounding environment. With its peaceful setting along the Big Sioux River, the dam invites visitors to appreciate the beauty of water resources while also raising awareness about the importance of responsible stewardship. As efforts continue to assess and manage the risks associated with the dam, it remains a vital component of the region's water infrastructure, reflecting the interconnectedness of water resources, climate, and human activities in shaping the landscape for future generations.
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 Klondike Mill Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Sioux R At Sioux Falls Sd | 37 cfs | → |
| Big Sioux R At North Cliff Ave At Sioux Falls Sd | 302 cfs | → |
| Split Rock Cr At Corson Sd | 16 cfs | → |
| Rock River Near Rock Valley | 784 cfs | → |
| Skunk Cr At Sioux Falls Sd | 15 cfs | → |
| Rock River Below Tom Creek At Rock Rapids | 173 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Klondike Mill Dam.
Boat launches
- Copperwood Court Lincoln County
- 310th Street Sioux County
- Split Rock Park Road Garretson
- Wall Lake Boat Ramp
Track Klondike Mill Dam 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 Klondike Mill Dam
Where does the data for Klondike Mill Dam 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 Klondike Mill Dam.