Ted's Lake Dam dam
Ted's Lake Dam
Ted's Lake Dam in Missouri is a privately-owned structure that serves the primary purpose of recreation. Built in 1957, this earth dam with a buttress core stands at a height of 30 feet and has a storage capacity of 273 acre-feet. Located in Cole County, Ted's Lake Dam is situated along the Osage River and covers a surface area of 17 acres within a drainage area of 390 square miles.
Despite its low hazard potential, Ted's Lake Dam has not been rated for its condition assessment. With no state jurisdiction or regulatory agency overseeing its operations, the dam remains uninspected and lacks an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in case of emergencies. The dam's current risk assessment, management measures, and inundation maps are also not available, raising concerns about the potential risks posed by this structure.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in Ted's Lake Dam, its unique design and historical significance provide an intriguing case study for understanding the challenges and implications of privately-owned dams. While the dam's primary purpose of recreation adds to the local landscape, the lack of state oversight and maintenance raises questions about its safety and long-term sustainability. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the importance of proper management and risk assessment for structures like Ted's Lake Dam becomes increasingly critical to ensure the safety of surrounding communities and ecosystems.
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 Ted's Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Moreau River Near Jefferson City | 5,050 cfs | → |
| Osage River Below St. Thomas | 37,300 cfs | → |
| Maries River At Westphalia | 1,000 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Jefferson City | 86,300 cfs | → |
| Gasconade River Near Rich Fountain | 2,320 cfs | → |
| Osage River Near Bagnell | 37,000 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ted's Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Us 50;Us 63 Osage County
- Old Ferry Road 10801, Cole County
- Jefferson City
- Osage County
- Scheuler Ferry Road West 698, Miller County
- Callaway County
Campgrounds
- Binder Park
- Rollins Ferry Access - Mdc
- Pine Ridge Recreation Area
- Pine Ridge Campground
- Pine Ridge
- Dry Fork Recreation Area
Track Ted's 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 Ted's Lake Dam
Where does the data for Ted's 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 Ted's Lake Dam.