Lake Scioto Dam dam
Lake Scioto Dam
Lake Scioto Dam in Phelps, Missouri, stands as a symbol of both recreation and water resource management. Built in 1970 by the Missouri Department of Conservation, this earth dam is a key feature on Luther Branch Creek, offering a storage capacity of 216 acre-feet and serving as a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts. With a height of 44 feet and a length of 550 feet, the dam provides not only flood control but also a serene surface area of 10 acres for boating, fishing, and other recreational activities.
Despite its age, Lake Scioto Dam remains in satisfactory condition, with a high hazard potential that necessitates regular inspections and maintenance. The dam's uncontrolled spillway, valve outlet gates, and rock foundation underscore its resilience in managing water flow and ensuring public safety. With a risk assessment rating of moderate, the dam is a testament to effective risk management measures and the commitment to safeguarding the surrounding community from potential hazards.
As a private-owned structure under state jurisdiction, Lake Scioto Dam serves as a valuable resource for both residents and visitors, highlighting the intersection of water management, climate resilience, and recreational opportunities in the heart of Missouri. Its enduring presence and vital role in the local landscape underscore the importance of sustainable infrastructure and proactive hazard mitigation in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Lake Scioto 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 | → |
| Meramec River At Cook Station | 41 cfs | → |
| Little Piney Creek At Newburg | 168 cfs | → |
| Gasconade River At Jerome | 1,360 cfs | → |
| Big Piney Below Ft. Leonard Wood | 318 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Scioto Dam.
Boat launches
- Prairie Lake Road Phelps County
- Crawford County
- Tea Road Gasconade County
- Crossroads Access
- Logan Road Pulaski County
- County Route 809 Osage County
Campgrounds
- Lane Spring
- Lane Spring Recreation Area
- Paydown Access - Mdc
- Onondaga Cave State Park
- Red Bluff
- 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 Lake Scioto 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 Lake Scioto Dam
Where does the data for Lake Scioto 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 Lake Scioto Dam.