Cates Lake Dam dam
Cates Lake Dam
Cates Lake Dam in Leadwood, Missouri, stands as a testament to nature's ability to provide a recreational haven while maintaining a low hazard potential. This privately owned Earth dam, completed in 1961, offers 212 acre-feet of storage for the surrounding area, with a primary purpose of recreation. Its core type of Buttress and unknown foundation type contribute to its structural height of 33 feet and normal storage capacity of 116 acre-feet.
Located on TR-LOST CREEK in Washington County, the dam's condition is currently not rated, indicating a need for further assessment to ensure its long-term integrity. With no state regulation or inspection in place, it becomes crucial for private owners to take responsibility for the dam's maintenance and upkeep to mitigate any potential risks. Despite its low hazard potential, the lack of recent inspection data highlights the importance of regular monitoring and assessment to ensure the safety of both the dam and the community it serves.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is essential to recognize the significance of structures like Cates Lake Dam in providing recreational opportunities while also safeguarding against potential hazards. By staying informed about the condition of such dams and advocating for their proper maintenance, we can contribute to the sustainable management of water resources and the protection of our environment for future generations.
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 Cates Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big River At Irondale | 40 cfs | → |
| Big River Below Desloge | 81 cfs | → |
| East Fork Black River Nr Lesterville | 5 cfs | → |
| East Fork Black River At Lesterville | 44 cfs | → |
| St. Francis River Near Mill Creek | 96 cfs | → |
| Little St. Francis River At Fredericktown | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cates Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Bismarch Lake Road St. Francois County
- Enough Boat Launch And Trailhead
- Council Bluff Lake Trail Washington County
- Ozark Trail - Marble Creek Section Iron County
- Choctaw Drive St. Francois County
Campgrounds
- St. Joe State Park
- Council Bluff - Wild Boar Ridge
- Council Bluff Recreation Area
- Panther Branch
- Johnsons Shut-Ins State Park
- Hazel Creek Campground
Fishing spots
Track Cates 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 Cates Lake Dam
Where does the data for Cates 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 Cates Lake Dam.