Sommers Dam dam
Sommers Dam
Sommers Dam, located in Clark County, Missouri, is a privately owned structure completed in 1994 for the primary purpose of grade stabilization along the TR-FOX River. This earth dam stands at a height of 29 feet, with a hydraulic height of 28 feet and a structural height of 31 feet. It has a length of 254 feet and a storage capacity of 39 acre-feet, serving a drainage area of 89.6 square miles.
Despite being categorized as having a low hazard potential, Sommers Dam is considered to have a moderate risk level, with a risk assessment rating of 3 out of 5. The spillway type is uncontrolled with a width of 10 feet, and there are no outlet gates or associated structures. The dam, constructed with a stone core and built on a soil foundation, has not been rated for its current condition, and the emergency action plan (EAP) status is unclear. The dam's location in a rural area and its purpose of grade stabilization make it an important structure for managing water resources and climate impacts in the region.
Climate enthusiasts and water resource experts can find Sommers Dam to be a fascinating case study of a privately owned earth dam designed for grade stabilization purposes. Its construction in 1994 along the TR-FOX River in Missouri showcases the importance of maintaining infrastructure to mitigate potential risks and ensure water management efficiency. With a moderate risk assessment and a low hazard potential, this structure serves as a key component in the local watershed, providing storage capacity and flood control measures for the surrounding area.
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 Sommers Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines River At St. Francisville | 6,910 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River At Keosauqua | 7,370 cfs | → |
| Fox River At Wayland | 45 cfs | → |
| Cedar Creek Near Oakland Mills | 55 cfs | → |
| Wyaconda River Above Canton | 20 cfs | → |
| Skunk River At Augusta | 2,200 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sommers Dam.
Boat launches
- Jersey Avenue Van Buren County
- See Road Scotland County
- Van Buren County
- Lake Showme Drive Scotland County
- 130th Street Lewis County
Campgrounds
- Battle Of Athens State Park
- Indian Lake Park
- Shimek State Forest
- Bentonsport
- Lake Sugema County Park
- Lacey-Keosauqua State Park Campground
More reservoirs
Track Sommers 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 Sommers Dam
Where does the data for Sommers 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 Sommers Dam.