Norman George Lake dam
Norman George Lake
Norman George Lake, located in Buchanan, Missouri, is a privately owned earth dam built in 1980 primarily for flood risk reduction along the TR-Platte River. With a structural height of 26 feet and a length of 370 feet, the dam has a normal storage capacity of 11 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 37 acre-feet, serving a drainage area of 265 square miles. Despite its low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, the dam is currently not rated for its condition and lacks emergency action plans and inspection data.
The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 38 feet and is constructed with stone core types on a soil foundation. While Norman George Lake serves purposes such as fire protection, stock, and small fish pond, its main function remains flood risk reduction. The surrounding area covers 4 acres with a maximum discharge capacity of 292 cubic feet per second, making it a vital structure in managing water resources and mitigating potential flood damage in the region.
Managed by a private owner, Norman George Lake is a crucial component in the water infrastructure of Buchanan County, Missouri. While the dam is currently not regulated or inspected by state agencies, its role in protecting the local community from floods underscores the importance of proactive maintenance and risk management measures to ensure its continued effectiveness in the face of changing climate patterns and water resource demands.
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 Norman George Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Platte River Near Agency | 13,800 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At St. Joseph | 51,700 cfs | → |
| Little Platte River Near Plattsburg | 10 cfs | → |
| Platte River At Sharps Station | 14,200 cfs | → |
| Little Platte River At Smithville | 32 cfs | → |
| Stranger C Nr Potter | 199 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Norman George Lake.
Track Norman George 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 Norman George Lake
Where does the data for Norman George 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 Norman George Lake.