Fountain Lake Dam dam
Fountain Lake Dam
Located in St. Louis, Missouri, Fountain Lake Dam is a privately owned structure that plays a crucial role in controlling the flow of the TRIB MERAMEC river. This Earth dam stands at a height of 36 feet with a hydraulic height matching that figure. The dam has a length of 240 feet and a storage capacity of 19.2 acre-feet, making it a significant resource for the surrounding area.
Despite its satisfactory condition assessment, Fountain Lake Dam poses a high hazard potential, highlighting the importance of regular inspections and maintenance. The dam's spillway is uncontrolled with a width of 1 foot, allowing for a maximum discharge of 327 cubic feet per second. The risk assessment for this structure is moderate, indicating a need for ongoing risk management measures to ensure the safety of those downstream in case of a potential failure.
With its strategic location and critical role in water resource management, Fountain Lake Dam serves as a key infrastructure for the Sunset Hills community. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the maintenance and regulation of dams like Fountain Lake become increasingly important in safeguarding communities against potential hazards and ensuring sustainable water management practices.
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 Fountain Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Fenton Creek Near Fenton | 1 cfs | → |
| Yarnell Creek At Fenton | 1 cfs | → |
| Mattese Creek Near Mattese | 4 cfs | → |
| Grand Glaize Creek Near Valley Park | 8 cfs | → |
| Sugar Creek At Kirkwood | 11 cfs | → |
| Williams Creek Near Peerless Park | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Fountain Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Allen Road Fenton
- Allen Road 204, Fenton
- Kirkwood
- Ellis Grove Parkway Jefferson County
- Grand Glaize Pkwy 1084, Valley Park
- Lemay Ferry Road Oakville
Track Fountain 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 Fountain Lake Dam
Where does the data for Fountain 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 Fountain Lake Dam.