William E. Towell Dam dam
William E. Towell Dam
William E. Towell Dam, located in Dillon, Missouri, is a state-owned structure designed by the Missouri Department of Conservation. Completed in 1965, this earth dam stands at 48 feet high and spans 1450 feet in length, with a primary purpose of providing recreational opportunities. The dam holds a normal storage capacity of 1300 acre-feet and is situated on a tributary of the Boubuese River, within Phelps County.
This significant water resource, managed by the DAM and Reservoir Safety Program, has a high hazard potential and undergoes regular state inspections, enforcement, and permitting. Despite its age, the dam is deemed to be in satisfactory condition, with a moderate risk level of 3. With a spillway width of 200 feet and a maximum discharge of 6379 cubic feet per second, William E. Towell Dam plays a crucial role in water management and flood control in the region.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, William E. Towell Dam offers a fascinating case study in dam engineering and management. Its strategic location, design features, and operational capacity make it an essential asset for both recreational use and water storage in the state of Missouri. With a history dating back to the 1960s, this dam continues to be a vital component of the local ecosystem, highlighting the importance of proper maintenance and risk management in sustainable water resource development.
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 William E. Towell Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bourbeuse River Near High Gate | 178 cfs | → |
| Little Piney Creek At Newburg | 168 cfs | → |
| Gasconade River At Jerome | 1,360 cfs | → |
| Meramec River At Cook Station | 41 cfs | → |
| Meramec River Near Steelville | 299 cfs | → |
| Big Piney Below Ft. Leonard Wood | 318 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near William E. Towell Dam.
Boat launches
- Prairie Lake Road Phelps County
- Crossroads Access
- Logan Road Pulaski County
- Crawford County
- Tea Road Gasconade County
- County Route 809 Osage County
Campgrounds
- Lane Spring
- Lane Spring Recreation Area
- Paydown Access - Mdc
- Onondaga Cave State Park
- Piney River Military - Fort Leonard Wood
- Rollins Ferry Access - Mdc
Paddle runs
- Northern Boundary Of Fort Leonard Wood To North Section Line Of Sec 31, T36n, R10w
- State Highway 49 Bridge Near Dillard, Missouri To Forest Boundary In Sections 13/24, T38n, R3w
- Missouri State Highway 17 To Fort Leonard Wood (Army Base)
- County Highway O, Laclede, County, Missouri To Ozark Spring
Track William E. Towell 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 William E. Towell Dam
Where does the data for William E. Towell 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 William E. Towell Dam.