Winneshiek County, Iowa
A shallow water table limits basements on 22% of Winneshiek County's mapped land. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 6%.
None of the county is in drought on the October 13, 2026 Drought Monitor map. FEMA's flood data list 28 flood losses here since 2016. 67% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1962.
Data as of October 13, 2026 · sources
expansive clay: shrink-swell limits slab homes
high water table: limits basements
in drought, October 13, 2026
of homes built before 1980
Soil under Winneshiek County
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 6.1% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 21.5% |
| Septic fields very limited | 93.4% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 4.3% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 18.4% |
| Mapped soil | 441,500 acres |
| Soil series | Share here | Series nationally: high water table |
|---|---|---|
| Fayette | 23% | 0% |
| Downs | 18% | n/a |
| Dubuque | 5% | n/a |
| Kasson | 4% | n/a |
| Marlean | 3% | n/a |
| Lacrescent | 3% | n/a |
How we count · survey areas IA191 (2025-09-09)
What the numbers mean here
On 22% of Winneshiek County's mapped land, soil stays saturated within about 6 feet of the surface for part of the year, which is basement depth.
Rain over the 12 months to August 2026: 33.96 in, 4.19 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 38.15 in.
USDA rates 93% of the land very limited for septic absorption fields.
Drought
0% of the county is in drought (D1 or worse) on the October 13, 2026 map. No part of the county was in drought in the last 52 weeks.
| Category, October 13, 2026 | Share of county |
|---|---|
| D0 abnormally dry or worse | 0% |
| D1 moderate drought or worse | 0% |
| D2 severe or worse | 0% |
| D3 extreme or worse | 0% |
| D4 exceptional | 0% |
Flood losses since 2016
28 flood losses since 2016, $356,849 paid. The worst year was 2016, with 24.
| Year | Flood losses |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 24 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 to date | 0 |
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 38.15 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 33.96 in (-4.19) |
| 2025 | 34.28 in (-3.87) |
| Wettest year since 1895 | 2018: 56.26 in |
| Driest year since 1895 | 1910: 19.14 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at DECORAH (3 mi away) | 8.4 |
Homes
| Housing units | 9,029 |
| Median year built | 1962 |
| Built before 1980 | 67% |
| Built 2000 or later | 18% |
| Owner-occupied | 74% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $259,200 |
| Single-family detached | 82% |
What repairs cost
Published ranges from cost guides, not quotes. More sources, and where they disagree.
Nearby counties
| Place | Distance | Expansive clay | High water table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allamakee County, IA | 24 mi | 18% | 11% |
| Howard County, IA | 24 mi | 1% | 76% |
| Chickasaw County, IA | 29 mi | 3% | 82% |
| Fillmore County, MN | 29 mi | 8% | 21% |
| Fayette County, IA | 30 mi | 1% | 59% |
| Houston County, MN | 31 mi | 5% | 16% |
| Clayton County, IA | 41 mi | 1% | 14% |
| Bremer County, IA | 43 mi | 4% | 78% |
Sources: USDA SSURGO (September 9, 2025) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · NOAA (August 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status