Lac Calista Dam dam
Lac Calista Dam
Lac Calista Dam, located in Missouri on the TR BIG RIVER, is a privately owned earth dam constructed in 1977 primarily for recreation purposes. With a height of 33 feet and a storage capacity of 88 acre-feet, the dam covers a surface area of 5 acres and serves a drainage area of 95 acres. Despite its modest size, the dam has a high hazard potential, emphasizing the need for proper maintenance and monitoring.
Owned by a private entity, Lac Calista Dam is not regulated or inspected by state agencies, raising concerns about its safety and emergency preparedness. The dam's condition assessment is listed as "Not Rated," indicating a lack of recent evaluations. Given its high hazard potential, it is crucial for the owner to ensure that emergency action plans are in place, and the dam meets safety guidelines to mitigate any potential risks to the surrounding community and environment.
Climate and water resource enthusiasts may be intrigued by Lac Calista Dam's unique design as an earth dam with buttress core types. The dam's location in St. Francois, Missouri, coupled with its recreational purpose, offers a picturesque setting for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy water-based activities. However, the lack of state regulation and inspection highlights the importance of proactive maintenance and monitoring to safeguard the integrity of the dam and ensure the safety of all those who benefit from its presence.
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 Lac Calista Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big River Below Desloge | 100 cfs | → |
| Big River At Irondale | 49 cfs | → |
| Big River Near Richwoods | 352 cfs | → |
| East Fork Black River Nr Lesterville | 7 cfs | → |
| Little St. Francis River At Fredericktown | 5 cfs | → |
| St. Francis River Near Mill Creek | 119 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lac Calista Dam.
Boat launches
- Bismarch Lake Road St. Francois County
- Choctaw Drive St. Francois County
- Council Bluff Lake Trail Washington County
- Enough Boat Launch And Trailhead
Campgrounds
- St. Joe State Park
- St. Francois State Park
- Washington State Park
- Hawn State Park
- Council Bluff - Wild Boar Ridge
- Council Bluff Recreation Area
Fishing spots
Track Lac Calista 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 Lac Calista Dam
Where does the data for Lac Calista 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 Lac Calista Dam.