Colwil Lake Dam dam
Colwil Lake Dam
Colwil Lake Dam, also known as Colwill Dam, is a privately owned structure located in Shannon, Missouri, near the city of Van Buren. Completed in 1959, this earth dam stands at a height of 47 feet and spans 180 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 360 acre-feet. The dam is primarily used for recreational purposes and is situated on Matthews Branch, within the jurisdiction of the DAM AND RESERVOIR SAFETY PROG.
Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, Colwil Lake Dam is subject to state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement. The dam's spillway is of the uncontrolled type, with a maximum discharge of 3200 cubic feet per second. With a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, the dam has undergone regular inspections, with the last one conducted in November 2014. Overall, Colwil Lake Dam serves as a vital water resource and recreational area within the region, showcasing the importance of proper management and maintenance for sustainable water infrastructure.
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 Colwil Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Jacks Fork At Eminence | 268 cfs | → |
| Jacks Fork At Alley Spring | 109 cfs | → |
| Logan Creek At Ellington | 6 cfs | → |
| Current River At Van Buren | 1,230 cfs | → |
| Current River Above Akers | 325 cfs | → |
| Jacks Fork Near Mountain View | 69 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Colwil Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Shannon County
- State Highway 106 Shannon County
- Carter Co 105 Carter County
- Van Buren
- County Road 60-102 Carter County
- State Highway B Shannon County
Campgrounds
- Two Rivers - Ozark National Scenic River
- Shawnee Creek
- Jerktail Landing
- Powder Mill - Ozark National Scenic River
- Owls Bend - Powder Mill
- Powder Mill Campground
Fishing spots
- Huzzah Ponds
- Crane Lake Recreation Area
- Beaver Lake Recreation Area
- Howell Lake
- Parole Lake
- Timberline Lake
Paddle runs
- Confluence With Alley Spring (Branch) To Confluence With Current River (Does Not Include River Segment In Gap Between Parkland Units)
- The Most Upstream Portion Of Ozark National Scenic Riverways To The Most Downstream Portion Of Ozark National Scenic Riverways
- Western Edge Of Ozark National Scenic Riverways To Confluence With Alley Spring (Branch)
- Markam Spring Recreation Area To Nf Boundary
- Forest Boundary At North Section Line Of Sec 4, T33n, R5e To Forest Boundary At South Section Line Of Sec 35, T32n, R5e
Track Colwil 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 Colwil Lake Dam
Where does the data for Colwil 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 Colwil Lake Dam.