Swope - Morris Lake Dam dam
Swope - Morris Lake Dam
Swope - Morris Lake Dam, located in Lafayette, Missouri, was completed in 1962 and stands at a height of 25 feet. The primary purpose of this earth dam, with a core type of buttress, is for recreation, offering a storage capacity of 201 acre-feet. Situated on TR-Horseshoe Creek, the dam's normal storage capacity is 35 acre-feet, with a surface area of 15 acres and drainage area of 235 acres.
Owned privately, Swope - Morris Lake Dam has a low hazard potential and has not been rated for condition assessment. Despite not being regulated by the state, this dam serves as an important recreational site in the area. The dam's emergency action plan status and risk assessment information are currently not available, highlighting the need for further evaluation and monitoring to ensure the safety and sustainability of this vital water resource in Missouri.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Swope - Morris Lake Dam presents an interesting case study in private dam ownership and management. With its potential for recreation and water storage, this dam plays a significant role in the local watershed. As efforts are made to assess its condition and potential risks, there is an opportunity to explore how private owners can contribute to water resource management and climate adaptation strategies in the region.
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 Swope - 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 | 332 cfs | → |
| Blue River At Stadium Drive In Kc | 1,390 cfs | → |
| Blue River At Kansas City | 533 cfs | → |
| Crooked River Near Richmond | 35 cfs | → |
| Blue River At Blue Ridge Blvd Ext In Kc | 134 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Swope - Morris Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Odessa Lake Road Lafayette County
- Lee's Summit
- South Lake Road Cass County
- Lafayette County
- Mo 210 Ray County
- Cass County
Track Swope - 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 Swope - Morris Lake Dam
Where does the data for Swope - 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 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 Swope - Morris Lake Dam.