Cedar Hill Lake No. 3 Dam dam
Cedar Hill Lake No. 3 Dam
Cedar Hill Lake No. 3 Dam, located in Jefferson County, Missouri, was completed in 1949 and serves as a private recreational facility. The dam, classified as an earth dam with a buttress core type, stands at a height of 28 feet and has a storage capacity of 60 acre-feet. The reservoir has a surface area of 3 acres and drains a watershed area of 36 square miles, making it a vital water resource in the region.
Despite being privately owned, Cedar Hill Lake No. 3 Dam is not regulated or inspected by state authorities, posing a high hazard potential due to its age and lack of recent assessments. The dam's emergency action plan and risk management measures are currently not up to date, raising concerns for potential downstream impacts in the event of a failure. With no designated spillway or outlet gates, the dam's condition assessment remains unrated, highlighting the need for improved monitoring and maintenance to ensure long-term safety and sustainability.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts would find Cedar Hill Lake No. 3 Dam an intriguing case study, showcasing the challenges faced by privately owned dams in terms of regulatory oversight and emergency preparedness. As a critical component of the local watershed, the dam's structural integrity and risk management strategies are essential for protecting downstream communities and ecosystems. Continued monitoring and maintenance efforts are necessary to mitigate potential hazards and preserve the dam's recreational and water storage functions for future generations.
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 Cedar Hill Lake No. 3 Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big River At Byrnesville | 361 cfs | → |
| Meramec River At Pacific | 1,300 cfs | → |
| Big River Near Richwoods | 346 cfs | → |
| Meramec River Near Eureka | 1,770 cfs | → |
| Williams Creek Near Peerless Park | 8 cfs | → |
| Kiefer Creek Near Ballwin | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cedar Hill Lake No. 3 Dam.
Boat launches
- Ellis Grove Parkway Jefferson County
- Allen Road 204, Fenton
- Allen Road Fenton
- Williamson Road Oakville
- Lemay Ferry Road Oakville
- Grand Glaize Pkwy 1084, Valley Park
Campgrounds
- Robertsville State Park
- Washington State Park
- Klondike County Park
- Babler Memorial State Park
- Backpack Camp 8
- Backpack Camp 7
Paddle runs
Track Cedar Hill Lake No. 3 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 Cedar Hill Lake No. 3 Dam
Where does the data for Cedar Hill Lake No. 3 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 Cedar Hill Lake No. 3 Dam.