Prairie Lee Lake Dam dam
Prairie Lee Lake Dam
Prairie Lee Lake Dam, located in Jackson County, Missouri, is a key structure managing the East Fork Little Blue River. Built in 1939, this earth dam stands at a height of 69 feet and stretches for 980 feet, providing a recreational oasis for locals and visitors alike. With a normal storage capacity of 2500 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 6000 acre-feet, the dam offers ample opportunities for boating, fishing, and other water-related activities.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the Missouri Dam and Reservoir Safety Program, Prairie Lee Lake Dam has a satisfactory condition assessment and a moderate hazard potential rating. The dam is equipped with a valve outlet gate and an uncontrolled spillway, with a maximum discharge capacity of 27,000 cubic feet per second. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam has undergone regular inspections, with the last one conducted in November 2015. Additionally, the dam has an emergency action plan in place to ensure public safety in the event of any unforeseen incidents.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Prairie Lee Lake Dam serves as a fascinating case study in dam management and recreational water usage. With its strategic location and impressive storage capacity, the dam not only provides a valuable water resource for the region but also offers a picturesque setting for outdoor activities. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the maintenance and regulation of dams like Prairie Lee Lake Dam will be crucial in ensuring the safety and sustainability of our water infrastructure.
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 Prairie Lee Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| East Fork Little Blue River Nr Blue Springs | 10 cfs | → |
| Little Blue River Near Lake City | 332 cfs | → |
| Blue River At Kansas City | 533 cfs | → |
| Blue River At Stadium Drive In Kc | 1,390 cfs | → |
| Blue River At Blue Ridge Blvd Ext In Kc | 134 cfs | → |
| Indian C At State Line Rd | 294 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Prairie Lee Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Lee's Summit
- Southeast Raytown Road Lee's Summit
- South Lake Road Cass County
- Cass County
- River Trail Kansas City
- Mo 291 Sugar Creek
Track Prairie Lee Lake 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 Prairie Lee Lake Dam
Where does the data for Prairie Lee Lake 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 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 Prairie Lee Lake Dam.