Bamboo Ridge Lake dam
Bamboo Ridge Lake
Bamboo Ridge Lake, located in Waterloo, Iowa, is a privately owned reservoir with a primary purpose of recreation. Constructed in 2012 by HR Green, this earth dam stands at a height of 20 feet, with a length of 1030 feet and a maximum storage capacity of 285 acre-feet. The lake covers a surface area of 15.3 acres and is fed by a tributary to Sink Creek, providing a tranquil setting for water resource and climate enthusiasts to enjoy various outdoor activities.
Managed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Bamboo Ridge Lake is regulated, inspected, and enforced to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations. With a hazard potential classified as high, the dam's condition assessment as of July 2020 is reported as satisfactory. Despite not having an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place, the reservoir has undergone regular inspections, with the last one conducted in July 2020. This picturesque lake offers a serene retreat for visitors while also serving as a vital water resource in the region.
As a popular recreational spot in Black Hawk County, Bamboo Ridge Lake boasts a normal storage capacity of 94 acre-feet and a drainage area of 0.62 square miles. The uncontrolled outlet gates and spillway width of 80 feet contribute to efficient water management, with a maximum discharge capacity of 3450 cubic feet per second. The dam's role in flood control and water supply makes it an essential infrastructure for the surrounding community, highlighting the intersection of water resources, climate resilience, and outdoor recreation at this idyllic location.
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 Bamboo Ridge Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar River At Waterloo | 4,330 cfs | → |
| Black Hawk Creek At Hudson | 304 cfs | → |
| Cedar River At Cedar Falls | 4,070 cfs | → |
| Wolf Creek Near Dysart | 369 cfs | → |
| Cedar River At Janesville | 1,150 cfs | → |
| West Fork Cedar River At Finchford | 780 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bamboo Ridge Lake.
Boat launches
- Mitchell Avenue Waterloo
- Leo P Rooff Expressway Waterloo
- Cedar Valley Lakes Trail Waterloo
- Wyth Road 3224, Waterloo
- Big Lake Loop Cedar Falls
- Harmon Road Black Hawk County
Campgrounds
- Deerwood City Park
- George Wyth State Park
- Big Woods Lake
- Black Hawk County Park
- Hickory Hills Park - La Porte City
- Mcfarlane Park
Fishing spots
Track Bamboo Ridge Lake 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 Bamboo Ridge Lake
Where does the data for Bamboo Ridge Lake 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 High 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 Bamboo Ridge Lake.