Ford Lake Dam dam
Ford Lake Dam
Located in Connelsville, Missouri, Ford Lake Dam is a private earth dam with a primary purpose of grade stabilization along TR-Elm Creek. Built in 1993, this 34-foot high structure spans 212 feet and has a storage capacity of 16 acre-feet. With a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating, Ford Lake Dam serves a range of purposes including fire protection, stock, small fish pond, and grade stabilization.
Managed by the Rock Island District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Ford Lake Dam is not regulated by the state of Missouri. Despite its age, the dam's condition is currently not rated, and there have been no recent inspections or maintenance activities reported. With no outlet gates, the spillway type is uncontrolled with a width of 10 feet, allowing for a maximum discharge of 15 cubic feet per second.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Ford Lake Dam represents a unique structure in Schuyler County, Missouri, contributing to the local ecosystem's water management and grade stabilization efforts. While the dam's risk potential is considered moderate, its role in providing essential services like fire protection and water storage underscores its importance in the community's infrastructure and environmental 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 Ford Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chariton River At Livonia | 45 cfs | → |
| Chariton River Near Moulton | 64 cfs | → |
| Chariton River At Novinger | 173 cfs | → |
| Fox River At Bloomfield | 7 cfs | → |
| Chariton River Near Rathbun | 29 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River At Ottumwa | 7,480 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ford Lake Dam.
⚓ Boat launches
- Us 136 Schuyler County
- Lake Showme Drive Scotland County
- Isthmus Place Appanoose County
- Islandview Place Appanoose County
- 200th Avenue Appanoose County
- Hornet Place Appanoose County
Track Ford 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 Ford Lake Dam
Where does the data for Ford 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 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 Ford Lake Dam.