Don Bunton Lake dam
Don Bunton Lake
Don Bunton Lake in Barton County, Missouri, is a private fish and wildlife pond built in 1970 with a primary purpose of supporting aquatic life. The earth dam, standing at 17 feet tall and stretching 1033 feet long, holds a maximum storage capacity of 99 acre-feet and covers 3 acres of surface area. The reservoir is fed by TR-Little Drywood Creek and serves irrigation purposes in addition to providing habitat for various wildlife species.
Managed by a private owner, Don Bunton Lake has a low hazard potential and is classified as having a moderate risk level. Despite being unregulated by the state and lacking formal inspections, the dam's condition assessment is currently not rated. The spillway, measuring 30 feet wide, is uncontrolled, and there are no outlet gates or associated structures. The lake's proximity to Kansas City District and its moderate risk level make it a noteworthy site for water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the management and maintenance of small-scale reservoirs in the region.
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 Don Bunton Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| East Drywood Creek At Prairie State Park | · | → |
| Marmaton River Near Nevada | 332 cfs | → |
| Spring River At Carthage | 581 cfs | → |
| Spring River Near Waco | 802 cfs | → |
| Cedar Creek Near Pleasant View | 243 cfs | → |
| Turnback Creek Above Greenfield | 301 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Don Bunton Lake.
Boat launches
- Southwest 50th Road Barton County
- West Atlantic Street 634, Nevada
- South 1500 Road Vernon County
- Route H Dade County
- East Cove Drive Umber View Heights
- South 1527 Road 17499, Cedar County
Track Don Bunton Lake 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 Don Bunton Lake
Where does the data for Don Bunton Lake 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 Low 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 Don Bunton Lake.