Sycamore Valley Lake Dam dam
Sycamore Valley Lake Dam
Sycamore Valley Lake Dam, located in Defiance, Missouri, is a privately owned structure that plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region. Built in 2012, this earth dam stands at a height of 67 feet and has a hydraulic height of 59 feet, with a storage capacity of 2300 acre-feet. The dam spans a length of 800 feet and is situated on Osage Creek, contributing to flood control and water supply for the surrounding area.
Managed by the Dam and Reservoir Safety Program in Missouri, Sycamore Valley Lake Dam has been deemed to have a high hazard potential due to its close proximity to residential areas. Despite this, the dam's condition assessment in 2012 reported it as satisfactory, with regular inspections and a moderate risk assessment score of 3. With an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, the dam is designed to handle a maximum discharge of 5200 cubic feet per second, serving as a vital piece of infrastructure for water management and climate resilience in the region.
As an enthusiast for water resources and climate resilience, Sycamore Valley Lake Dam presents an intriguing case study in dam safety and management. With its strategic location on Osage Creek and its significant storage capacity, the dam plays a critical role in flood control and water supply for the St. Charles County area. As the region faces increasing challenges from climate change, understanding the design and management of structures like Sycamore Valley Lake Dam is key to ensuring the safety and sustainability of water resources in the area.
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 Sycamore Valley Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bonhomme Creek Near Ellisville | 2 cfs | → |
| Dardenne Creek At Ofallon | 46 cfs | → |
| Meramec River At Pacific | 1,250 cfs | → |
| Bonhomme Creek Near Clarkson Valley | 6 cfs | → |
| Caulks Creek At Chesterfield | 23 cfs | → |
| Bourbeuse River At Union | 311 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sycamore Valley Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Katy Trail 1800, Saint Charles County
- Downtown Washington
- Brittany Place 1, Lake Saint Louis
- Windjammer Point 200, Lake Saint Louis
- Stierberger Court Union
- Scott A Lewis Lane Cottleville
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 Sycamore Valley 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 Sycamore Valley Lake Dam
Where does the data for Sycamore Valley 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 Sycamore Valley Lake Dam.