Engineer Lake dam
Engineer Lake
Engineer Lake, also known as Lower Engineer Lake, is a federal-owned water structure located in Pulaski County, Missouri, near the city of Waynesville. The primary purpose of Engineer Lake is debris control, with a dam height of 25 feet and a length of 1445 feet. The lake has a storage capacity of 19 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 5 acres, with a drainage area of 1 square mile. The spillway type is uncontrolled, with a width of 14 feet, and the hazard potential is categorized as low.
Managed by the US Army, Engineer Lake serves as a vital water resource along the Roubidoux-Smith Branch Tributary. Despite its moderate risk assessment rating, the lake's condition assessment is currently listed as not available, with the last inspection conducted in July 2018. While the emergency action plan status and inundation maps are not provided, the structure is recognized for its importance in mitigating debris and managing water flow in the area.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Engineer Lake offers a fascinating case study of a federal-owned earth dam structure designed for debris control. Situated in a picturesque setting amidst the natural beauty of Pulaski County, Missouri, the lake provides both practical benefits and environmental value. With its low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, Engineer Lake stands as a testament to the importance of well-maintained water structures in sustainable resource management and climate resilience efforts.
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 Engineer Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Piney Below Ft. Leonard Wood | 360 cfs | → |
| Big Piney River Near Big Piney | 271 cfs | → |
| Roubidoux Creek Above Ft. Leonard Wood | 33 cfs | → |
| Gasconade River Near Hazelgreen | 381 cfs | → |
| Gasconade River At Jerome | 1,430 cfs | → |
| Little Piney Creek At Newburg | 130 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Engineer Lake.
Boat launches
- Crossroads Access
- Dawn Road Laclede County
- Running River Drive Pulaski County
- Logan Road Pulaski County
Campgrounds
- Piney River Military - Fort Leonard Wood
- Roubidoux Springs
- Big Piney Equestrian Camp
- Big Piney Trail Primitive
- Slabtown Recreation Area
- Paddy Creek
Paddle runs
- Missouri State Highway 17 To Fort Leonard Wood (Army Base)
- Northern Boundary Of Fort Leonard Wood To North Section Line Of Sec 31, T36n, R10w
- County Highway O, Laclede, County, Missouri To Ozark Spring
- Western Edge Of Ozark National Scenic Riverways To Confluence With Alley Spring (Branch)
Track Engineer Lake 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 Engineer Lake
Where does the data for Engineer Lake 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 Engineer Lake.