Lake Julia Dam dam
Lake Julia Dam
Lake Julia Dam, located in Wayne County, Missouri, stands as a testament to the ingenuity and engineering capabilities of its time. Built in 1974, this private-owned earth dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a tranquil oasis for water enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. With a structural height of 34 feet and a storage capacity of 382 acre-feet, Lake Julia Dam provides not only a scenic backdrop but also important water resource management for the surrounding area.
Despite its age, Lake Julia Dam continues to play a crucial role in the local ecosystem, supporting a surface area of 21 acres and draining a watershed of 335 acres. However, with a hazard potential rated as high and a condition assessment that remains unrated, the dam poses significant challenges in terms of risk management and safety. The last inspection date dating back to 1979 highlights the need for regular monitoring and maintenance to ensure the integrity of this vital infrastructure.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, the significance of structures like Lake Julia Dam becomes even more pronounced. With the potential for increased extreme weather events and flooding, the need for proactive risk assessment and management measures is paramount. For enthusiasts of water resources and climate adaptation, Lake Julia Dam serves as a case study in the intersection of recreation, conservation, and resilience in the face of a changing climate.
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 Lake Julia Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Castor River At Zalma | 158 cfs | → |
| St. Francis River At Wappapello | 590 cfs | → |
| St. Francis River Near Patterson | 409 cfs | → |
| St. Francis River Near Saco | 166 cfs | → |
| Black River At Leeper | 377 cfs | → |
| Black River At Poplar Bluff | 743 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Julia Dam.
Boat launches
- Wayne County
- State Highway W Wayne County
- People's Creek Road 29, Wayne County
- Mudlick Equestrian And Hike Trail Wayne County
- County Road 501 Butler County
- State Highway U Cape Girardeau County
Campgrounds
- Sulphur Springs - Lake Wappapello
- Greenville - Lake Wappapello
- Sam A Baker State Park
- Markham Springs Recreation Area
- Lake Girardeau Conservation Area - Mdc
- 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
- Markam Spring Recreation Area To Nf Boundary
- The Most Upstream Portion Of Ozark National Scenic Riverways To The Most Downstream Portion Of Ozark National Scenic Riverways
Track Lake Julia 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 Lake Julia Dam
Where does the data for Lake Julia 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 Lake Julia Dam.