Morris Lake Dam dam
Morris Lake Dam
Morris Lake Dam in Grain Valley, Missouri, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1973 with a primary purpose of fire protection, stock, or small fish pond. With a height of 30 feet and a storage capacity of 96 acre-feet, the dam serves multiple purposes including recreation and water supply for the surrounding area. Situated on TR-West Fork-Sni-A-Bar Creek, the dam has a drainage area of 55 square miles and a surface area of 6 acres.
Despite its high hazard potential, Morris Lake Dam has not been rated for its condition assessment. The dam does not fall under state regulation or inspection, highlighting the importance of regular maintenance and monitoring by the private owner. The location of the dam, under the jurisdiction of Jackson County in Missouri, adds to the significance of its role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region.
Emanuel Cleaver (D) represents Morris Lake Dam in the US Congress, emphasizing the importance of federal and local collaboration in ensuring the safety and functionality of critical infrastructure like dams. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the design, purpose, and potential risks associated with dams like Morris Lake Dam is essential for promoting sustainable water management practices and enhancing community resilience in the face of changing climate 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 Morris Lake 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 | 83 cfs | → |
| Blue River At Stadium Drive In Kc | 93 cfs | → |
| Blue River At Kansas City | 77 cfs | → |
| Blue River At Blue Ridge Blvd Ext In Kc | 29 cfs | → |
| Indian C At State Line Rd | 42 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Morris Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Lee's Summit
- Odessa Lake Road Lafayette County
- South Lake Road Cass County
- Southeast Raytown Road Lee's Summit
- Cass County
- Mo 291 Sugar Creek
Track Morris 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 Morris Lake Dam
Where does the data for Morris 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 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 Morris Lake Dam.