James Estes Dam dam
James Estes Dam
James Estes Dam, located in Morrisville, Missouri, is a private earth dam completed in 1958 primarily for recreational purposes. Standing at a structural height of 10 feet, the dam holds a normal storage capacity of 36 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 59 acre-feet, with a surface area of 11 acres and a drainage area of 251 square miles. The dam, which spans over Thrasher Creek, has a low hazard potential and has not been rated for its condition assessment.
Despite its modest size and purpose, James Estes Dam remains an important feature in the local landscape, providing opportunities for recreational activities such as boating, fishing, and wildlife observation. The dam's location within Polk County, Missouri, offers visitors a serene environment surrounded by nature and water. While it may not be as well-known as larger dams, its significance lies in its contribution to the area's water resource management and climate resilience.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts explore the diverse range of dams across the country, James Estes Dam serves as a reminder of the importance of smaller-scale infrastructure in supporting community needs and promoting environmental stewardship. With its unlisted foundation and buttress core design, the dam showcases the variety of engineering approaches used to manage water resources effectively. While it may not be a major player on the national stage, the dam's role in enhancing local water-based recreational activities underscores the interconnected relationship between humans and their natural surroundings.
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 James Estes Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Sac River Near Morrisville | 92 cfs | → |
| Sac River Near Dadeville | 150 cfs | → |
| South Fork Dry Sac River Near Springfield | 6 cfs | → |
| Pomme De Terre River Near Polk | 113 cfs | → |
| Turnback Creek Above Greenfield | 95 cfs | → |
| Wilson Creek At Springfield | 12 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near James Estes Dam.
Boat launches
- Highway Ra Dade County
- Highway Ra 19499, Cedar County
- State Road Cc Dade County
- Route H Dade County
- Cedar County
- East Cove Drive Umber View Heights
Track James Estes 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 James Estes Dam
Where does the data for James Estes 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 James Estes Dam.