West Dam dam
West Dam
West Dam, located in Macon, Missouri, along the Long Branch River, serves as a private grade stabilization structure completed in 1996. Standing at a height of 25.2 feet, with a hydraulic height of 22 feet and a structural height of 24 feet, the earth dam stretches 193 feet in length and has a storage capacity of 27 acre-feet. The dam's primary purpose is grade stabilization, and it is classified as having low hazard potential and moderate risk.
Despite not being regulated by the state or federal agencies, West Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region, with a drainage area of 110 acres and a normal storage capacity of 18 acre-feet. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 12 feet and has a maximum discharge capacity of 30 cubic feet per second. With a surface area of 4 acres, West Dam provides essential flood control and water retention benefits for the local community, contributing to the overall climate resilience of the area.
While West Dam has not been rated for condition assessment and does not have an emergency action plan in place, it remains a vital structure for maintaining water quality and quantity in Macon, Missouri. With its strategic location and design, West Dam showcases the importance of private initiatives in water resource management and highlights the need for continued monitoring and maintenance to ensure its long-term effectiveness in addressing climate-related challenges.
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 West Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| East Fork Little Chariton R. Nr Macon | 106 cfs | → |
| Long Branch Creek Near Atlanta | 0 cfs | → |
| Salt River At Hagers Grove | 1 cfs | → |
| Salt River Near Shelbina | 45 cfs | → |
| Chariton River Near Prairie Hill | 238 cfs | → |
| East Fork Little Chariton R. Nr Huntsville | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near West Dam.
Track West 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 West Dam
Where does the data for West 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 West Dam.