Lake Lotawana Dam dam
Lake Lotawana Dam
Lake Lotawana Dam, located in Tarsney Lakes, Missouri, is a privately owned structure with a primary purpose of recreation. Built in 1928 by O.C. Sheley, this earth dam stands at 58 feet in height and stretches 1650 feet in length, holding a normal storage capacity of 11,568 acre-feet. The dam overlooks the West Fork Sni-A-Bar Creek and serves as a popular spot for water resource and climate enthusiasts due to its impressive hydraulic features and picturesque surroundings.
Despite its satisfactory condition assessment, Lake Lotawana Dam poses a high hazard potential, prompting regular inspections every three years to ensure its safety and stability. With a maximum discharge capacity of 6,111 cubic feet per second, the dam's uncontrolled spillway, measuring 200 feet in width, plays a crucial role in managing water levels during periods of high inflow. The dam's risk assessment is categorized as moderate (3), highlighting the importance of diligent risk management measures to mitigate any potential threats to the surrounding community and environment.
With its rich history dating back nearly a century and its significant contribution to local recreation and water management, Lake Lotawana Dam remains a key landmark in Jackson County, Missouri. As water resource and climate enthusiasts continue to appreciate and study this iconic structure, ongoing efforts to maintain its safety and functionality will be essential to safeguarding its legacy for future generations.
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 Lake Lotawana Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| East Fork Little Blue River Nr Blue Springs | 10 cfs | → |
| Little Blue River Near Lake City | 510 cfs | → |
| Blue River At Stadium Drive In Kc | 643 cfs | → |
| Blue River At Kansas City | 407 cfs | → |
| Blue River At Blue Ridge Blvd Ext In Kc | 237 cfs | → |
| Indian C At State Line Rd | 135 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Lotawana Dam.
Boat launches
- Lee's Summit
- South Lake Road Cass County
- Southeast Raytown Road Lee's Summit
- Cass County
- Odessa Lake Road Lafayette County
- Mo 291 Sugar Creek
Track Lake Lotawana 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 Lake Lotawana Dam
Where does the data for Lake Lotawana 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 Lake Lotawana Dam.