Birkhead Lake Dam dam
Birkhead Lake Dam
Birkhead Lake Dam, located in Lincoln, Missouri, is a privately owned earth dam primarily used for purposes other than flood control or water supply. The dam stands at a height of 30 feet and has a maximum storage capacity of 80 acre-feet. With a normal storage capacity of 50 acre-feet, the dam covers a surface area of 5 acres and drains a watershed area of 65 acres.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential and being in "not rated" condition, Birkhead Lake Dam has not undergone recent inspection or assessment. The dam does not fall under state jurisdiction or regulation, and there are no established emergency action plans or risk management measures in place. The dam is situated on the TR-Birkhead Br Bobs Cr river/stream in the Kansas City District, with no federal agency involvement in its ownership, funding, design, construction, regulation, inspection, or operation.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Birkhead Lake Dam presents an intriguing case of a privately owned structure with limited oversight and maintenance. The dam's static condition assessment and lack of emergency preparedness raise questions about its long-term viability and resilience in the face of changing environmental conditions. With its unique design features and location in a rural area, Birkhead Lake Dam serves as a reminder of the diverse landscape of water infrastructure in the United States and the importance of proactive monitoring and management to ensure the safety and sustainability of our water resources.
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 Birkhead Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cuivre River Near Troy | 1,170 cfs | → |
| Dardenne Creek At Old Town St. Peters | 389 cfs | → |
| Dardenne Creek At Ofallon | 185 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At St. Charles | 129,000 cfs | → |
| Bonhomme Creek Near Clarkson Valley | 11 cfs | → |
| Cowmire Creek At Bridgeton | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Birkhead Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Lakeside Trail Lincoln County
- Falstaff Road Lincoln County
- East Sycamore Road Lincoln County
- South Harbor Road Lincoln County
- Saint Charles County
- Brittany Place 1, Lake Saint Louis
Track Birkhead 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 Birkhead Lake Dam
Where does the data for Birkhead 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 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 Birkhead Lake Dam.