Lowell Power Plant Spillway dam
Lowell Power Plant Spillway
The Lowell Power Plant Spillway, located in Cherokee, Kansas, along the Shoal Creek, is a concrete dam that was completed in 1905. This private-owned structure has a dam height of 30.75 feet and a storage capacity of 7600 acre-feet. Despite being categorized as having a low hazard potential, the spillway is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the Kansas Department of Agriculture, ensuring its compliance with state regulations and safety standards.
Although the last inspection of the Lowell Power Plant Spillway was conducted in 1979, with a condition assessment of "Not Rated," the structure remains in operation with no reported modifications over the years. The spillway's emergency action plan status, risk assessment, and management measures are currently unknown, raising questions about its preparedness for potential incidents or hazards. Additionally, the lack of information on the spillway's spillway type, width, and discharge capacity adds to the uncertainties surrounding its functionality and safety measures.
Given its historical significance and vital role in water resource management, the Lowell Power Plant Spillway serves as a critical infrastructure along the Shoal Creek. However, with limited data available on its current condition and emergency preparedness, there is a need for updated inspections, risk assessments, and management measures to ensure the spillway's continued safe operation and protection of the surrounding community and environment from any potential risks or incidents.
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 Lowell Power Plant Spillway -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Spring River Near Quapaw | 1,820 cfs | → |
| Shoal Creek Above Joplin | 500 cfs | → |
| Tar Creek At 22nd Street Bridge | 5 cfs | → |
| Spring River Near Waco | 802 cfs | → |
| Neosho River Near Commerce | 5,730 cfs | → |
| Spring River At Carthage | 581 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lowell Power Plant Spillway.
Boat launches
- County Road 290 Carl Junction
- County Lane 251 7909, Jasper County
- Southwest 50th Road Barton County
- State Highway 43 Mcdonald County
Campgrounds
- Baxter Springs Riverside Park
- Schifferdecker Park
- Twin Bridges State Park
- Twin Bridges State Rec Area
- Big Brutus Museum
- East River Park
Fishing spots
Track Lowell Power Plant Spillway 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 Lowell Power Plant Spillway
Where does the data for Lowell Power Plant Spillway 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 Lowell Power Plant Spillway.