Brays Lake Dam dam
Brays Lake Dam
Brays Lake Dam in Phelps County, Missouri, stands as a vital structure for both water resource management and climate enthusiasts. Completed in 1963, this private earth dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a serene retreat for visitors to enjoy the 96-acre surface area of the reservoir formed by the dam. With a maximum storage capacity of 3,636 acre-feet and a drainage area of 686 square miles, Brays Lake Dam plays a crucial role in regulating water flow along the Abbott Branch-Beaver Creek.
This dam, with a structural height of 79 feet and a length of 1,200 feet, has been deemed to pose a high hazard potential yet maintains a satisfactory condition assessment. State-regulated and permitted by the DAM AND RESERVOIR SAFETY PROG, Brays Lake Dam is subject to regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity and safety measures. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and a valve outlet gate, enabling controlled water release when necessary. Located in Newburg, Missouri, this dam is overseen by the St. Louis District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, offering a compelling case study for water resource management and climate adaptation strategies.
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 Brays Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Piney Creek At Newburg | 168 cfs | → |
| Gasconade River At Jerome | 1,360 cfs | → |
| Big Piney Below Ft. Leonard Wood | 318 cfs | → |
| Meramec River At Cook Station | 41 cfs | → |
| Bourbeuse River Near High Gate | 178 cfs | → |
| Big Piney River Near Big Piney | 245 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Brays Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Prairie Lake Road Phelps County
- Crossroads Access
- Logan Road Pulaski County
- Running River Drive Pulaski County
Campgrounds
- Lane Spring
- Lane Spring Recreation Area
- Piney River Military - Fort Leonard Wood
- Paydown Access - Mdc
- Roubidoux Springs
- Slabtown Recreation Area
Paddle runs
- 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
- State Highway 49 Bridge Near Dillard, Missouri To Forest Boundary In Sections 13/24, T38n, R3w
- Confluence With Alley Spring (Branch) To Confluence With Current River (Does Not Include River Segment In Gap Between Parkland Units)
Track Brays 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 Brays Lake Dam
Where does the data for Brays 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 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 Brays Lake Dam.