Butzer Lake Dam dam
Butzer Lake Dam
Butzer Lake Dam, located in Miller County, Missouri, was completed in 1950 and serves primarily for recreational purposes. This private earth dam with a height of 20 feet holds a storage capacity of 96 acre-feet, offering a serene 9-acre surface area for visitors to enjoy. Situated on the TR-OSAGE RIVER, the dam's low hazard potential and condition assessment of "Not Rated" indicate its stable state.
Managed by private owners, Butzer Lake Dam falls outside state jurisdiction and regulation, with no state permitting, inspection, or enforcement requirements. Despite its limited risk assessment and emergency preparedness measures, the dam's peaceful setting and recreational offerings make it a popular destination for water resource and climate enthusiasts seeking a tranquil escape in the St. Louis District. With its picturesque location and historical significance dating back to the mid-20th century, Butzer Lake Dam continues to attract visitors looking to unwind in its natural beauty.
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 Butzer Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Osage River Below St. Thomas | 18,300 cfs | → |
| Osage River Near Bagnell | 13,700 cfs | → |
| Moreau River Near Jefferson City | 110 cfs | → |
| Maries River At Westphalia | 55 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Jefferson City | 51,500 cfs | → |
| Gasconade River Near Rich Fountain | 1,710 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Butzer Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Kings Bluff Drive 201, Miller County
- River Road 218, Tuscumbia
- Scheuler Ferry Road West 698, Miller County
- Miller County
- Chaney Road Lake Ozark
- Old Ferry Road 10801, Cole County
Campgrounds
- Lake Of The Ozarks State Park
- Lake Of The Ozarks Military
- Binder Park
- Versailles City Park
- Paydown Access - Mdc
Paddle runs
- County Highway O, Laclede, County, Missouri To Ozark Spring
- Northern Boundary Of Fort Leonard Wood To North Section Line Of Sec 31, T36n, R10w
- Missouri State Highway 17 To Fort Leonard Wood (Army Base)
More reservoirs
Track Butzer 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 Butzer Lake Dam
Where does the data for Butzer 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 Butzer Lake Dam.