Keaton Lake Dam dam
Keaton Lake Dam
Keaton Lake Dam, located in McDonald County, Missouri, was completed in 1960 and serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock, and small fish pond management. This privately-owned earth dam stands at 32 feet high and has a storage capacity of 103 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 84 acre-feet. The dam is situated on TR-Little Sugar Creek and is under the jurisdiction of the Tulsa District of the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is currently listed as 'Not Rated', indicating a need for further inspection and evaluation. The dam does not have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) prepared, raising concerns about emergency preparedness in case of a breach or failure. Keaton Lake Dam's location in a rural area, combined with its multiple purposes and lack of regulatory oversight, highlights the importance of maintaining and monitoring the structure to ensure the safety of surrounding communities and the environment. Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the intersection of dams, water management, and emergency preparedness may find Keaton Lake Dam a compelling case study for further investigation.
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 Keaton Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Sugar Creek Near Powell | 51 cfs | → |
| Indian Creek Near Lanagan | 93 cfs | → |
| Elk River Near Tiff City | 1,690 cfs | → |
| Cave Springs Branch Near South West City | 2 cfs | → |
| Buffalo Creek At Tiff City | 30 cfs | → |
| Osage Creek Near Cave Springs | 31 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Keaton Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Memorial Drive 500, Bella Vista
- Lancaster Drive Bella Vista
- Lake Windsor Boat Ramp
- Lake Ann Boat Ramp
- Stoneykirk Drive 116, Bella Vista
- Lakeside Drive Bella Vista
Campgrounds
- Vacation Rentals
- Lanagan Access City Park
- Prairie Creek - Beaver Lake
- Neosho City Campground
- Indian Creek - Beaver Lake
- Lost Bridge North - Beaver Lake
Fishing spots
Track Keaton 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 Keaton Lake Dam
Where does the data for Keaton 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 Keaton Lake Dam.