Brown Lake Dam dam
Brown Lake Dam
Brown Lake Dam, located in Washington, Missouri, is a privately owned structure with a height of 30 feet and a storage capacity of 273 acre-feet. Completed in 1982, this earth dam sits on a tributary of St. John's Creek and serves as a crucial water resource for the surrounding area. With a surface area of 17 acres and a drainage area of 175 square miles, the dam plays a vital role in managing water flow and storage in the region.
Despite being privately owned, Brown Lake Dam has a high hazard potential, highlighting the importance of proper maintenance and monitoring. The dam's condition is currently not rated, and there is no information available on its emergency action plan or risk assessment measures. With a history of no state regulation, inspection, or enforcement, it is essential for the owner to prioritize the safety and integrity of this critical infrastructure to prevent any potential risks or hazards.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Brown Lake Dam offers a fascinating insight into the management of water resources in the region. Its location in Franklin County, Missouri, and proximity to the St. Louis District add to its significance in the local ecosystem. As a privately owned structure with a high hazard potential, the dam presents a unique case study for understanding the challenges and responsibilities associated with maintaining and regulating essential water infrastructure in 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 Brown Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bourbeuse River At Union | 353 cfs | → |
| Meramec River At Pacific | 1,300 cfs | → |
| Bonhomme Creek Near Ellisville | 1 cfs | → |
| Dardenne Creek At Ofallon | 22 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Hermann | 121,000 cfs | → |
| Big River At Byrnesville | 361 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Brown Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Downtown Washington
- Stierberger Court Union
- Buchheit Road 128, Franklin County
- Highway Uu Franklin County
- Katy Trail Warren County
- Katy Trail 1800, Saint Charles County
Campgrounds
- Camp Trinity
- Klondike County Park
- Robertsville State Park
- Babler Memorial State Park
- Backpack Camp 7
- Backpack Camp 6
Paddle runs
Track Brown 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 Brown Lake Dam
Where does the data for Brown 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 Brown Lake Dam.