Pottorf Lake Dam dam
Pottorf Lake Dam
Pottorf Lake Dam in Vernon County, Missouri, is a private earth dam constructed in 1956 primarily for flood risk reduction. It stands at a height of 25 feet and has a storage capacity of 94 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 58 acre-feet. Situated on TR to Clear Creek, the dam serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock or small fish pond maintenance, and flood risk mitigation.
Despite being privately owned, Pottorf Lake Dam is not regulated or inspected by state agencies, as it falls under the jurisdiction of the Kansas City District of the US Army Corps of Engineers. The dam has a low hazard potential and its condition is currently not rated. While lacking detailed information on spillways, locks, and other structural features, the dam remains a crucial element in the local water resource management system, ensuring protection against potential flooding events in the area.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Pottorf Lake Dam offers a fascinating case study in private dam ownership and management. Its strategic location in Dederick, Missouri, highlights the importance of collaboration between private owners and federal agencies in ensuring the safety and efficiency of water infrastructure. As the dam continues to serve its purpose in flood risk reduction, further assessment and monitoring may be necessary to address any potential risks and enhance its overall resilience in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Pottorf Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Marmaton River Near Nevada | 650 cfs | → |
| East Drywood Creek At Prairie State Park | · | → |
| Cedar Creek Near Pleasant View | 245 cfs | → |
| Sac River At Hwy J Below Stockton | 1,170 cfs | → |
| Little Osage R. At Horton | 771 cfs | → |
| Sac River Near Caplinger Mills | 3,170 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pottorf Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- West Atlantic Street 634, Nevada
- South 1500 Road Vernon County
- South 1527 Road 17499, Cedar County
- East Cove Drive Umber View Heights
- Stockton
- Cedar County
Track Pottorf Lake 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 Pottorf Lake Dam
Where does the data for Pottorf Lake 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 Pottorf Lake Dam.