Grand Falls Dam dam
Grand Falls Dam
Grand Falls Dam, located on Shoal Creek in Lowell, Missouri, was completed in 1920 and serves as a vital recreational spot for locals and visitors. Owned by the local government, the dam primarily functions to provide recreational opportunities such as fishing, boating, and swimming, while also serving as a water supply source. With a gravity dam type and a height of 15 feet, the dam has a normal storage capacity of 180 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 401 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 50 acres.
Despite its low hazard potential, the condition of Grand Falls Dam is currently not rated, with no recent inspection data available. The dam's emergency action plan status and risk assessment measures are also lacking information, raising questions about its overall safety and management protocols. As an important structure in the region, it is crucial for the authorities to conduct regular assessments and updates to ensure the safety and reliability of the Grand Falls Dam for both recreational and water supply purposes.
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 Grand Falls Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Shoal Creek Above Joplin | 538 cfs | → |
| Spring River Near Quapaw | 2,120 cfs | → |
| Spring River Near Waco | 938 cfs | → |
| Spring River At Carthage | 652 cfs | → |
| Tar Creek At 22nd Street Bridge | 6 cfs | → |
| Neosho River Near Commerce | 9,090 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Grand Falls Dam.
Boat launches
- County Road 290 Carl Junction
- County Lane 251 7909, Jasper County
- State Highway 43 Mcdonald County
- Southwest 50th Road Barton County
Campgrounds
- Schifferdecker Park
- Baxter Springs Riverside Park
- Neosho City Campground
- Twin Bridges State Park
- Twin Bridges State Rec Area
- Big Brutus Museum
Fishing spots
Track Grand Falls 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 Grand Falls Dam
Where does the data for Grand Falls 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 Grand Falls Dam.