Essie Dam dam
Essie Dam
Located in Phelps, Missouri, the Essie Dam is a privately owned structure built in 1955 with a primary purpose of recreation. This earth dam, with a height of 20 feet and a storage capacity of 75 acre-feet, is situated on Coppedge Creek. The dam has a low hazard potential and is currently rated as "Not Rated" in terms of its condition assessment.
Even though the Essie Dam is not regulated by the state and does not have any associated federal agencies overseeing its operations, it serves as a recreational spot for the local community in the city of SAFE. With a surface area of 7 acres and a drainage area of 174 square miles, the dam provides an ideal setting for outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, and picnicking. Despite its simple design and structure, the Essie Dam continues to be a valuable resource for water enthusiasts and climate advocates in the region.
While the Essie Dam may not have a significant impact on water resource management or climate change mitigation efforts, its historical significance and recreational value make it an important landmark in the area. As a privately owned earth dam, it represents a small yet crucial part of the local ecosystem and provides a unique opportunity for residents and visitors to connect with nature and enjoy the beauty of Coppedge Creek. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Essie Dam serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving and maintaining our natural resources for future generations to enjoy.
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 Essie Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bourbeuse River Near High Gate | 178 cfs | → |
| Meramec River Near Steelville | 299 cfs | → |
| Little Piney Creek At Newburg | 168 cfs | → |
| Meramec River At Cook Station | 41 cfs | → |
| Gasconade River At Jerome | 1,360 cfs | → |
| Gasconade River Near Rich Fountain | 2,320 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Essie Dam.
Boat launches
- Prairie Lake Road Phelps County
- Tea Road Gasconade County
- Crawford County
- County Route 809 Osage County
- Logan Road Pulaski County
- Crossroads Access
Campgrounds
- Paydown Access - Mdc
- Lane Spring
- Lane Spring Recreation Area
- Onondaga Cave State Park
- Rollins Ferry Access - Mdc
- Piney River Military - Fort Leonard Wood
Paddle runs
- State Highway 49 Bridge Near Dillard, Missouri To Forest Boundary In Sections 13/24, T38n, R3w
- Northern Boundary Of Fort Leonard Wood To North Section Line Of Sec 31, T36n, R10w
- Missouri State Highway 17 To Fort Leonard Wood (Army Base)
- County Highway O, Laclede, County, Missouri To Ozark Spring
Track Essie 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 Essie Dam
Where does the data for Essie 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 Essie Dam.