Essen Lake Dam dam
Essen Lake Dam
Essen Lake Dam, located in Weldon Springs, Missouri, stands as a vital water resource and recreational hub for the St. Charles County area. Completed in 1980, this earth dam with a buttress core type boasts a height of 50 feet and a length of 560 feet, providing a storage capacity of 973 acre-feet and a surface area of 72 acres. The dam's primary purpose is for recreation, offering locals and visitors a picturesque setting for activities like fishing, boating, and hiking.
Managed by a private owner, Essen Lake Dam is regulated by the DAM AND RESERVOIR SAFETY PROG in Missouri, ensuring regular inspections and enforcement to maintain its satisfactory condition. With a high hazard potential but a moderate risk assessment rating, the dam's emergency action plan and risk management measures are crucial for mitigating potential threats and ensuring public safety in case of emergencies. The dam's proximity to the Femme Osage River and its drainage area of 918 square miles further highlight its importance in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region.
Essen Lake Dam's presence as a key water infrastructure in Missouri underscores the intersection of environmental conservation and recreational opportunities. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the significance of maintaining this dam and its surrounding ecosystem is vital for promoting sustainable practices and safeguarding the local community's well-being in the face of changing climate patterns and potential hazards.
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 Essen Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Dardenne Creek At Ofallon | 46 cfs | → |
| Bonhomme Creek Near Ellisville | 2 cfs | → |
| Bonhomme Creek Near Clarkson Valley | 6 cfs | → |
| Caulks Creek At Chesterfield | 23 cfs | → |
| Meramec River At Pacific | 1,250 cfs | → |
| Dardenne Creek At Old Town St. Peters | 37 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Essen Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Katy Trail 1800, Saint Charles County
- Brittany Place 1, Lake Saint Louis
- Windjammer Point 200, Lake Saint Louis
- Downtown Washington
- Scott A Lewis Lane Cottleville
- Stierberger Court Union
Campgrounds
- Klondike County Park
- Babler Memorial State Park
- Robertsville State Park
- St. Peters 370 Lakeside Park
- Camp Trinity
- Cuivre River State Park
Paddle runs
Track Essen 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 Essen Lake Dam
Where does the data for Essen 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 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 Essen Lake Dam.