Kelso Dam dam
Kelso Dam
Kelso Dam, located in Schuyler County, Missouri, is a privately owned earth dam built in 1992 for grade stabilization along the TR-North Fabius River. With a height of 29 feet and a length of 310 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 20 acre-feet and serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock watering, and as a small fish pond. Its low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment make it a crucial infrastructure for water resource management in the region.
Managed by the Kansas City District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Kelso Dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 10 feet and a maximum discharge of 10 cubic feet per second. Despite not being rated for condition assessment, the dam's design with stone core and soil foundation ensures its structural integrity. The dam plays a vital role in regulating water flow and protecting downstream areas from flooding, highlighting its importance in the local ecosystem and water resource conservation efforts.
While Kelso Dam does not have a designated emergency action plan or updated contact information, its operational efficiency and risk management measures have been deemed satisfactory. With its strategic location and construction for grade stabilization, the dam serves as a key infrastructure for water supply, irrigation, and environmental conservation in the region. Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate the significance of Kelso Dam in maintaining the balance of the TR-North Fabius River ecosystem and mitigating potential risks associated with water management.
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 Kelso Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chariton River At Livonia | 45 cfs | → |
| Fox River At Bloomfield | 7 cfs | → |
| Chariton River Near Moulton | 64 cfs | → |
| Chariton River At Novinger | 173 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River At Keosauqua | 7,750 cfs | → |
| Chariton River Near Rathbun | 29 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kelso Dam.
⚓ Boat launches
- Lake Showme Drive Scotland County
- Us 136 Schuyler County
- Jersey Avenue Van Buren County
- See Road Scotland County
- Van Buren County
- Cliffland Road Wapello County
Track Kelso 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 Kelso Dam
Where does the data for Kelso 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 Kelso Dam.