Schmitt Lake Dam dam
Schmitt Lake Dam
Schmitt Lake Dam, located in Marthasville, Missouri, is a privately owned structure completed in 1990 primarily for recreational purposes. The earth dam, standing at a height of 32 feet, boasts a storage capacity of 274 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 16 acres. With a drainage area of 310 square miles and a hazard potential rated as high, this dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region.
Situated along a tributary to Tuque Creek, Schmitt Lake Dam serves as a key component in the St. Louis District's water management system. Despite not being regulated by the state or federal agencies, the dam's condition is currently not rated, highlighting the importance of regular inspections and maintenance to ensure its structural integrity and prevent potential hazards. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Schmitt Lake Dam to be a fascinating case study of a privately owned infrastructure contributing to both recreation and water management in Warren County, Missouri.
As climate change continues to impact water resources, structures like Schmitt Lake Dam will play an increasingly vital role in mitigating flood risks and ensuring sustainable water supply for the surrounding communities. With its high hazard potential and unregulated status, the dam presents a unique opportunity for stakeholders to collaborate on risk assessment, emergency preparedness, and long-term management strategies. By understanding and addressing the challenges faced by dams like Schmitt Lake, enthusiasts can contribute to the resilience and sustainability of water resources 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 Schmitt Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bourbeuse River At Union | 353 cfs | → |
| Dardenne Creek At Ofallon | 22 cfs | → |
| Bonhomme Creek Near Ellisville | 1 cfs | → |
| Meramec River At Pacific | 1,300 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Hermann | 121,000 cfs | → |
| Bonhomme Creek Near Clarkson Valley | 5 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Schmitt Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Downtown Washington
- Buchheit Road 128, Franklin County
- Katy Trail Warren County
- Stierberger Court Union
- Highway Uu Franklin County
- Brittany Place 1, Lake Saint Louis
Campgrounds
- Klondike County Park
- Camp Trinity
- Babler Memorial State Park
- Robertsville State Park
- Hermann City Rv Park
- Cuivre River State Park
Paddle runs
Track Schmitt 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 Schmitt Lake Dam
Where does the data for Schmitt 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 Schmitt Lake Dam.