Grindstaff Dam dam
Grindstaff Dam
Grindstaff Dam, located in Patton, Missouri, is a privately-owned structure primarily used for fire protection, stock, and small fish pond purposes. Completed in 1968, this earth-type dam stands at a height of 15 feet and has a storage capacity of 88 acre-feet. With a normal storage capacity of 48 acre-feet, the dam covers a surface area of 11 acres and serves a drainage area of 160 square miles along the TR-Little Whitewater River.
Managed by the St. Louis District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Grindstaff Dam has a low hazard potential and is currently classified as "Not Rated" in terms of its condition assessment. Despite not being regulated by the state or requiring inspections, the dam has yet to undergo a comprehensive risk assessment or emergency action plan preparation. The dam's proximity to residential areas underscores the importance of monitoring and maintaining its structural integrity to ensure the safety of the surrounding community and water resources.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Grindstaff Dam offers a fascinating insight into the intersection of human intervention and natural ecosystems. As a vital component of the local landscape, this dam not only provides essential services for fire protection and agricultural activities but also presents challenges in terms of risk management and emergency preparedness. Understanding the history and current condition of Grindstaff Dam can shed light on the broader implications of dam construction and maintenance in ensuring sustainable water resource management in the face of changing climate patterns.
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 Grindstaff Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Fork Saline Creek Near Perryville | 20 cfs | → |
| Little St. Francis River At Fredericktown | 3 cfs | → |
| St. Francis River Near Mill Creek | 96 cfs | → |
| Castor River At Zalma | 147 cfs | → |
| St. Francis River Near Saco | 84 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Chester | 270,000 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Grindstaff Dam.
Boat launches
- State Highway U Cape Girardeau County
- Cape Girardeau County
- Water Street Chester
- Front Street 677, Grand Tower
Campgrounds
- Lake Girardeau Conservation Area - Mdc
- Silver Mines Recreation Area
- Silver Mines
- Hawn State Park
- Devils Backbone Park
- Marble Creek Rec Area
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
- 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
- Markam Spring Recreation Area To Nf Boundary
Track Grindstaff 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 Grindstaff Dam
Where does the data for Grindstaff 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 Grindstaff Dam.