Sprague Lake Dam dam
Sprague Lake Dam
Located in Franklin County, Missouri, Sprague Lake Dam is a private earth dam built in 1965 with a primary purpose of serving as a Fish and Wildlife Pond. The dam stands at a height of 30 feet, with a hydraulic height of 29 feet and a structural height of 31 feet. It spans a length of 210 feet and has a storage capacity of 165 acre-feet, providing essential water resources for the surrounding area.
Situated on TR-DuBois Creek, the dam also serves purposes such as fire protection, stock, or small fish pond, and recreation. With a drainage area of 600 acres, a surface area of 40 acres, and a maximum discharge of 190 cubic feet per second, Sprague Lake Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region. Despite being rated as having a low hazard potential and being in moderate risk, the dam's condition is currently not rated, highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its safety and efficacy for the local community.
Managed by a private owner, Sprague Lake Dam does not fall under state regulation or inspection. However, its vital role in providing water for wildlife and recreational activities underscores the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of climate change challenges. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Sprague Lake Dam serves as a fascinating example of how human-made structures can support and enhance natural ecosystems while adapting to 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 Sprague Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bourbeuse River At Union | 293 cfs | → |
| Meramec River At Pacific | 1,510 cfs | → |
| Bonhomme Creek Near Ellisville | 1 cfs | → |
| Big River At Byrnesville | 560 cfs | → |
| Meramec River Near Eureka | 2,140 cfs | → |
| Bonhomme Creek Near Clarkson Valley | 5 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sprague Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Downtown Washington
- Stierberger Court Union
- Highway Uu Franklin County
- Buchheit Road 128, Franklin County
- Katy Trail 1800, Saint Charles County
- Katy Trail Warren County
Campgrounds
- Klondike County Park
- Robertsville State Park
- Camp Trinity
- Babler Memorial State Park
- Backpack Camp 7
- Backpack Camp 6
Paddle runs
Track Sprague 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 Sprague Lake Dam
Where does the data for Sprague 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 Sprague Lake Dam.