Ripley County Lake Dam dam
Ripley County Lake Dam
Ripley County Lake Dam, located in Doniphan, Missouri, is a federally-owned structure that serves primarily for recreational purposes. Built in 1958, this earth dam stands at a height of 27 feet and spans 880 feet in length, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 206 acre-feet. The dam is situated on Briar Creek and is part of the Memphis District, with the nearest river or stream being the same creek.
With a significant hazard potential and a very high risk assessment rating, Ripley County Lake Dam has not been inspected or assessed for condition since 1979. Despite its age, the dam has not been rated for its current condition, and there is no emergency action plan (EAP) in place. The risk management measures, including the presence of outlet gates or locks, remain unspecified, leaving the dam's safety and potential impact in case of failure unclear. Water resource and climate enthusiasts may find this lack of recent inspection and assessment concerning, especially given the dam's significant hazard potential.
Overall, Ripley County Lake Dam presents an intriguing case for water resource and climate enthusiasts due to its federal ownership, recreational purpose, lack of recent inspection, and high hazard potential. The dam's location in Ripley County, Missouri, its construction details, and risk assessment information provide valuable insights into the complexities of managing and maintaining crucial water infrastructure in the face of evolving climate challenges. Further research and monitoring of this dam's condition and risk management strategies could yield valuable lessons for ensuring the safety and resilience of water resources 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 Ripley County Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Current River At Doniphan | 1,840 cfs | → |
| Eleven Point River Near Bardley | 473 cfs | → |
| Little Black River Below Fairdealing | 74 cfs | → |
| Current River At Van Buren | 1,180 cfs | → |
| Elevenpoint River Near Ravenden Springs | 577 cfs | → |
| Black River At Pocahontas | 2,810 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ripley County Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Riverton East River Access
- Us 160 33188, Oregon County
- Riverton West River Access
- East Walnut Street Oregon County
- Highway 142 River Access
- Whitten River Access
Campgrounds
- Deer Leap
- Deer Leap Recreation Area
- Float Camp Recreation Area
- Float Camp
- Fourche Lake Recreation Area
- Gooseneck
Fishing spots
- Beaver Lake Recreation Area
- Lake Ashbaugh
- Eleven Point River
- June Lake
- Crowley's Ridge State Park
- Lake Frierson
Paddle runs
- The Most Upstream Portion Of Ozark National Scenic Riverways To The Most Downstream Portion Of Ozark National Scenic Riverways
- Markam Spring Recreation Area To Nf Boundary
- Confluence With Alley Spring (Branch) To Confluence With Current River (Does Not Include River Segment In Gap Between Parkland Units)
- Western Edge Of Ozark National Scenic Riverways To Confluence With Alley Spring (Branch)
Track Ripley County 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 Ripley County Lake Dam
Where does the data for Ripley County 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 Significant 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 Ripley County Lake Dam.