Gash Dam dam
Gash Dam
Gash Dam, located in Lafayette, Missouri, serves as a vital resource for fish and wildlife conservation. Completed in 1965, this earth dam stands at a height of 25 feet, with a hydraulic height of 24 feet and a structural height of 26 feet. The dam spans a length of 510 feet and has a storage capacity of 32 acre-feet, providing essential water for fire protection, stock, small fish ponds, grade stabilization, and recreation.
The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with a width of 62 feet, and it is situated on the TR-Maries Creek. Despite its high hazard potential, Gash Dam is currently rated as "Not Rated" in terms of condition assessment. With a moderate risk level of 3, the dam does not have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) prepared at this time. While the dam's risk management measures and inundation maps are not specified, its role in preserving wildlife habitats and water sources in the area is crucial for environmental enthusiasts and climate advocates.
In the absence of state regulation and inspection, Gash Dam remains a privately owned structure with a primary purpose of supporting fish and wildlife ponds. With its stone core and soil foundation, the dam's impact on the surrounding 140.8 square miles of drainage area is significant. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Gash Dam serves as a focal point for understanding the intersection of human infrastructure and ecological conservation, highlighting the delicate balance between water management and environmental sustainability in Missouri's landscape.
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 Gash Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri River At Waverly | 39,300 cfs | → |
| Wakenda Creek At Carrollton | 25 cfs | → |
| Crooked River Near Richmond | 21 cfs | → |
| Blackwater River At Blue Lick | 177 cfs | → |
| Little Blue River Near Lake City | 83 cfs | → |
| East Fork Little Blue River Nr Blue Springs | 10 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Gash Dam.
Track Gash 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 Gash Dam
Where does the data for Gash 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 Gash Dam.