Baxter Lake Dam-South dam
Baxter Lake Dam-South
Baxter Lake Dam-South, located in Cainsville, Missouri, was completed in 1965 and serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock, small fish pond, and recreation. This private dam is classified as an earth dam with a buttress core type and a height of 25 feet, providing a storage capacity of 27 acre-feet and a surface area of 2 acres. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is not currently rated for its condition and has not been inspected recently.
Situated on TR-Brush Creek in Harrison County, Missouri, Baxter Lake Dam-South falls under the jurisdiction of the Rock Island District of the US Army Corps of Engineers. The dam does not have any associated structures and is not regulated or permitted by the state. With its primary purpose being fire protection and small-scale water storage, the dam is a vital resource for the local community. While the dam's condition assessment is not rated and it lacks emergency action plans, it continues to support its intended functions effectively.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Baxter Lake Dam-South presents an interesting case study of a privately-owned dam with diverse purposes and potential for recreational use. Its location in the rural setting of Cainsville provides a valuable water source for fire protection and agricultural activities. With its historical completion in the mid-20th century, the dam stands as a testament to the importance of small-scale water management in sustaining local ecosystems and communities.
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 Baxter Lake Dam-South -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| East Fork Big Creek Near Bethany | 684 cfs | → |
| Thompson River At Davis City | 8,610 cfs | → |
| Thompson River At Trenton | 13,900 cfs | → |
| Grand River Near Gallatin | 28,000 cfs | → |
| East Fork 102 River At Bedford | 1 cfs | → |
| Medicine Creek Near Laredo | 1,820 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Baxter Lake Dam-South.
Track Baxter Lake Dam-South 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 Baxter Lake Dam-South
Where does the data for Baxter Lake Dam-South 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 Baxter Lake Dam-South.