Colonial Acres Lake Dam dam
Colonial Acres Lake Dam
Colonial Acres Lake Dam, located in Menfro, Missouri, stands as a vital resource for irrigation and recreation in the area since its completion in 1965. This privately-owned earth dam, with a height of 29 feet, provides essential storage of 264 acre-feet of water from the Tyler Branch-Cinque Hommes stream for agricultural use. With a surface area of 17 acres and a drainage area of 352 square miles, the dam serves as a key infrastructure for water management in Perry County.
Although not regulated by the state, Colonial Acres Lake Dam has a high hazard potential due to its critical role in irrigation and the surrounding community. The dam's condition assessment remains unrated, with its last inspection dating back to September 1979. Despite the lack of recent assessments, the dam's emergency action plan and risk management measures are currently unspecified, highlighting the need for updated safety protocols to mitigate potential risks associated with its operation.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the significance of Colonial Acres Lake Dam in sustaining local agriculture and recreation underscores the importance of regular maintenance and risk assessment. With its high hazard potential and historical significance in the region, prioritizing safety measures and emergency preparedness for the dam is crucial for ensuring the continued well-being of both the community and the environment it serves.
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 Colonial Acres Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Fork Saline Creek Near Perryville | 20 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Chester | 270,000 cfs | → |
| Little St. Francis River At Fredericktown | 3 cfs | → |
| St. Francis River Near Mill Creek | 96 cfs | → |
| Big Muddy River At Rte 127 At Murphysboro | 410 cfs | → |
| Big River Below Desloge | 81 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Colonial Acres Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Water Street Chester
- Cape Girardeau County
- Front Street 677, Grand Tower
- Johnson Creek Road Jackson County
- Il 151 Jackson County
- Phegley Resort Lane Randolph County
Campgrounds
- Fort Kaskaskia State Park
- Hawn State Park
- Randolph County State Conservation Area
- Devils Backbone Park
- Johnson Creek
- Johnson Creek Campground
Paddle runs
- 1/2 Mile Downstream Of Confluence With Kinkaid Creek To Confluence With Mississippi River, Approx 4 Miles South Of Grand Tower, Il
- 1 Mile West Of Alto Pass, Il To 1/2 Mile South Of Confluence With Clear Creek, West Of Trail Of Tears State Forest
- Forest Boundary At North Section Line Of Sec 4, T33n, R5e To Forest Boundary At South Section Line Of Sec 35, T32n, R5e
Track Colonial Acres 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 Colonial Acres Lake Dam
Where does the data for Colonial Acres 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 Colonial Acres Lake Dam.