Lowell Pierce Dam dam
Lowell Pierce Dam
Lowell Pierce Dam, located in Atchison, Missouri, was completed in 1968 and serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock maintenance, and as a small fish pond for recreational activities. This private dam stands at a height of 45 feet and has a hydraulic height of 36 feet, with a storage capacity of 205 acre-feet and a normal storage capacity of 60 acre-feet. The dam, primarily made of earth with a buttress core type, spans a length of 300 feet and has a spillway width of 60 feet.
Managed by the DAM AND RESERVOIR SAFETY PROGRAM in Missouri, Lowell Pierce Dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by the state, ensuring its safety and compliance with regulations. The dam has a high hazard potential and has been assessed to be in satisfactory condition as of 2011. While the risk assessment is moderate, the dam's emergency action plan and risk management measures are not currently updated, highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to mitigate potential risks and ensure the safety of the surrounding community.
With a drainage area of 694 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 377 cubic feet per second, Lowell Pierce Dam plays a crucial role in water resource management for the TR MILL CREEK and surrounding areas. The dam's strategic location and design not only support local wildlife and recreational activities but also contribute to the overall resilience and sustainability of the region's water infrastructure in the face of changing climatic conditions.
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 Pierce Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Tarkio River At Fairfax Mo | 189 cfs | → |
| Little Nemaha River At Auburn | 202 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Rulo | 34,700 cfs | → |
| Big Nemaha River At Falls City | 242 cfs | → |
| Nodaway River Near Burlington Jct | 1,150 cfs | → |
| Nishnabotna River Above Hamburg | 1,800 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lowell Pierce Dam.
Boat launches
- Indian Cave
- Brownville Riverside City Park
- 165 Street Atchison County
- Peru Boat Ramp
- Rulo Boat Ramp 8482
- Kirkmans Cove Lake
Track Lowell Pierce 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 Lowell Pierce Dam
Where does the data for Lowell Pierce 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 Lowell Pierce Dam.