Rentfrow Lake Dam dam
Rentfrow Lake Dam
Rentfrow Lake Dam, also known as Abell Lake Dam, is a privately owned structure located in Franklin County, Missouri. Built in 1965 by designer George Williams, this earth dam stands at a height of 36 feet and stretches 630 feet in length. The dam's primary purpose is for recreation, offering a storage capacity of 293 acre-feet and a surface area of 14 acres for water enthusiasts to enjoy.
Managed by the Dam and Reservoir Safety Program in Missouri, Rentfrow Lake Dam is classified as having a high hazard potential with a satisfactory condition assessment as of December 2007. The dam is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway, 65 feet in width, and has a maximum discharge capacity of 1572 cubic feet per second. Despite its moderate risk assessment rating, the dam has not been assigned a Dam Safety Action Classification (DSAC) date, indicating a need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure public safety and environmental protection.
With its beautiful location alongside the Little Meramec River, Rentfrow Lake Dam offers a tranquil escape for outdoor enthusiasts seeking recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. As a vital water resource in the region, this dam serves as a reminder of the importance of proper infrastructure management and safety measures to mitigate potential risks and protect both the environment and the surrounding community.
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 Rentfrow Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big River Near Richwoods | 460 cfs | → |
| Big River At Byrnesville | 640 cfs | → |
| Meramec River At Pacific | 1,750 cfs | → |
| Bourbeuse River At Union | 341 cfs | → |
| Meramec River Near Sullivan | 847 cfs | → |
| Meramec River Near Eureka | 2,410 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rentfrow Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Highway W Franklin County
- Stierberger Court Union
- Meramec State Park Franklin County
- Highway Uu Franklin County
- Downtown Washington
- Ellis Grove Parkway Jefferson County
Campgrounds
- Robertsville State Park
- Washington State Park
- Backpack Camp 8
- Backpack Camp 1
- Backpack Camp 7
- Backpack Camp 2
Paddle runs
Track Rentfrow 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 Rentfrow Lake Dam
Where does the data for Rentfrow 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 Rentfrow Lake Dam.