Yarger Lake Dam dam
Yarger Lake Dam
Yarger Lake Dam, located in Laurie, Missouri, is a private-owned structure designed by Bill Chapman and completed in 1973 for the primary purpose of recreation. This earth dam stands at a height of 48 feet and stretches 500 feet in length, holding a maximum storage capacity of 813 acre-feet of water. The dam is regulated and inspected by the Dam and Reservoir Safety Program in Missouri, ensuring its safety and compliance with state regulations.
With a significant hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment, Yarger Lake Dam poses a moderate risk to the surrounding area. Despite being deemed safe, the dam has not undergone any modifications since its last inspection in 1987. Situated on the TR to Soap Creek, the dam covers a surface area of 15 acres and has a drainage area of 220 square miles. In case of emergencies, the dam does not have outlet gates but relies on an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 15 feet to manage excess water flow.
Overall, Yarger Lake Dam serves as a vital recreational resource in Morgan County, providing opportunities for water-based activities for locals and visitors alike. Its strategic location and design contribute to the surrounding ecosystem and offer a glimpse into the intersection of water resource management and climate adaptation in the region.
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 Yarger Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Osage River Near Bagnell | 13,700 cfs | → |
| Niangua River At Tunnel Dam Near Macks Creek | 396 cfs | → |
| Lamine River Near Otterville | 98 cfs | → |
| Osage River Below St. Thomas | 18,300 cfs | → |
| Pomme De Terre River Near Hermitage | 143 cfs | → |
| Moreau River Near Jefferson City | 110 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Yarger Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Gravois Mills Acess Boat Ramp
- Cofman Beach Access Boat Ramp
- Wigham School Access Boat Ramp
- Ivy Bend Road Morgan County
- Shawnee Bend Access Boat Ramp
- Brown Bend Access Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Versailles City Park
- Lake Of The Ozarks Military
- Lake Of The Ozarks State Park
- Lincoln City Park
- Osage Bluff - Harry S. Truman Lake
- Thibaut Point - Harry S. Truman Lake
Track Yarger 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 Yarger Lake Dam
Where does the data for Yarger 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 Significant 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 Yarger Lake Dam.