Moynihan Lake Dam dam
Moynihan Lake Dam
Located in Knob Lick, Missouri, the Moynihan Lake Dam is a privately owned structure built in 1956 for recreational purposes. Standing at a height of 30 feet, this earth dam with a buttress core holds a storage capacity of 128 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 8 acres. The dam is situated on TR-Wolf Creek and serves as a popular spot for outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, and picnicking.
Despite its primary purpose for recreation, the Moynihan Lake Dam poses a high hazard potential due to its condition being classified as "Not Rated." With no recent inspection or assessment data available, the dam's emergency action plan status, risk assessment, and management measures remain unknown. As a significant feature in the St. Francois County landscape, the dam's importance in water resource management and climate resilience underscores the need for continued monitoring and maintenance to ensure public safety and environmental protection.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts explore the Moynihan Lake Dam's historical significance and potential risks, the lack of regulatory oversight and designated inspection frequency raise concerns about its long-term stability and emergency response preparedness. With its location within the Kansas City District and proximity to the Wolf Creek watershed, efforts to update the dam's condition assessment, establish an emergency action plan, and implement risk management measures are crucial steps to safeguarding the community and preserving the dam's recreational value amidst 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 Moynihan Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big River Below Desloge | 84 cfs | → |
| Little St. Francis River At Fredericktown | 3 cfs | → |
| Big River At Irondale | 46 cfs | → |
| St. Francis River Near Mill Creek | 101 cfs | → |
| South Fork Saline Creek Near Perryville | 21 cfs | → |
| St. Francis River Near Saco | 92 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Moynihan Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Choctaw Drive St. Francois County
- Bismarch Lake Road St. Francois County
- Phegley Resort Lane Randolph County
- Ozark Trail - Marble Creek Section Iron County
- Enough Boat Launch And Trailhead
- Water Street Chester
Campgrounds
- Hawn State Park
- St. Joe State Park
- Silver Mines
- Silver Mines Recreation Area
- St. Francois State Park
- Marble Creek Recreation Area
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Forest Boundary At North Section Line Of Sec 4, T33n, R5e To Forest Boundary At South Section Line Of Sec 35, T32n, R5e
- State Highway 49 Bridge Near Dillard, Missouri To Forest Boundary In Sections 13/24, T38n, R3w
- 1/2 Mile Downstream Of Confluence With Kinkaid Creek To Confluence With Mississippi River, Approx 4 Miles South Of Grand Tower, Il
- Markam Spring Recreation Area To Nf Boundary
Track Moynihan 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 Moynihan Lake Dam
Where does the data for Moynihan 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 Moynihan Lake Dam.