Smitty's Catfish Pond Dam dam
Smitty's Catfish Pond Dam
Located in Madison, Missouri, Smitty's Catfish Pond Dam stands as a private recreational haven that provides 116 acre-feet of storage for water enthusiasts. Built in 1961, this earth dam with a buttress core type reaches a height of 27 feet and spans a surface area of 8 acres. While the dam is primarily used for recreational purposes, its high hazard potential necessitates careful monitoring and maintenance.
Despite being deemed as having a high hazard potential, Smitty's Catfish Pond Dam has not been rated for its condition assessment, with the last inspection conducted in February 1981. The dam's location along the TR to Greasy Creek offers a serene setting for visitors, but its lack of state regulation and inspection raises concerns about its long-term safety and resilience. Climate and water resource enthusiasts may find interest in the potential risks and management measures associated with this unregulated structure.
As a recreational dam in a private setting, Smitty's Catfish Pond Dam serves as a hidden gem in the scenic landscape of Missouri. With its unique design and historical significance dating back to the 1960s, this dam offers a glimpse into the intersection of human intervention in natural water systems. However, the lack of recent inspections and condition assessments highlights the need for increased awareness and potential risk mitigation strategies for this beloved local landmark.
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 Smitty's Catfish Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little St. Francis River At Fredericktown | 3 cfs | → |
| St. Francis River Near Mill Creek | 96 cfs | → |
| St. Francis River Near Saco | 84 cfs | → |
| St. Francis River Near Patterson | 365 cfs | → |
| Castor River At Zalma | 147 cfs | → |
| South Fork Saline Creek Near Perryville | 20 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Smitty's Catfish Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Ozark Trail - Marble Creek Section Iron County
- Mudlick Equestrian And Hike Trail Wayne County
- Wayne County
- State Highway U Cape Girardeau County
- Bismarch Lake Road St. Francois County
Campgrounds
- Silver Mines Recreation Area
- Silver Mines
- Marble Creek Rec Area
- Marble Creek Recreation Area
- Sam A Baker State Park
- Lake Girardeau Conservation Area - Mdc
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
- Markam Spring Recreation Area To Nf Boundary
- 1/2 Mile Downstream Of Confluence With Kinkaid Creek To Confluence With Mississippi River, Approx 4 Miles South Of Grand Tower, Il
- 1 Mile West Of Alto Pass, Il To 1/2 Mile South Of Confluence With Clear Creek, West Of Trail Of Tears State Forest
- The Most Upstream Portion Of Ozark National Scenic Riverways To The Most Downstream Portion Of Ozark National Scenic Riverways
Track Smitty's Catfish Pond 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 Smitty's Catfish Pond Dam
Where does the data for Smitty's Catfish Pond 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 Smitty's Catfish Pond Dam.