Lake Trails Dam dam
Lake Trails Dam
Lake Trails Dam, located in Festus, Missouri, is a privately owned structure designed by Marvin Drury and completed in 1967. The dam serves primarily for recreation purposes, with a height of 46 feet and a length of 550 feet. It has a maximum storage capacity of 567 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 16 acres, catering to water enthusiasts and nature lovers alike.
The dam is regulated by the Dam and Reservoir Safety Program in Missouri, ensuring that it is inspected and maintained regularly to meet safety standards. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the dam's condition has been assessed as satisfactory, with the last inspection in September 2017. The surrounding area is at moderate risk, but with proper risk management measures in place, Lake Trails Dam continues to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for water resource and climate enthusiasts to explore and appreciate.
With a scenic location along the TR to Joachim Creek, Lake Trails Dam offers a tranquil setting for outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, and hiking. Its uncontrolled spillway and rock foundations add to the natural beauty of the area, making it a popular destination for both locals and visitors. As efforts continue to ensure the dam's safety and functionality, Lake Trails Dam remains a valuable asset for water resource and climate enthusiasts seeking to connect with nature in Jefferson County, Missouri.
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 Lake Trails Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big River At Byrnesville | 361 cfs | → |
| Big River Near Richwoods | 346 cfs | → |
| Mattese Creek Near Mattese | 4 cfs | → |
| Fenton Creek Near Fenton | 1 cfs | → |
| Meramec River Near Eureka | 1,770 cfs | → |
| Martigney Creek Near Arnold | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Trails Dam.
Boat launches
- Williamson Road Oakville
- Ellis Grove Parkway Jefferson County
- Lemay Ferry Road Oakville
- Allen Road 204, Fenton
- Allen Road Fenton
- Choctaw Drive St. Francois County
Campgrounds
- Washington State Park
- St. Francois State Park
- Robertsville State Park
- Babler Memorial State Park
- St. Joe State Park
- Klondike County Park
Paddle runs
Track Lake Trails 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 Lake Trails Dam
Where does the data for Lake Trails 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 Lake Trails Dam.