Gordan Lake Dam dam
Gordan Lake Dam
Gordan Lake Dam in Forest City, Missouri, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1969 with a primary purpose that falls under "Other." The dam stands at a height of 31 feet and has a storage capacity of 249 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 165 acre-feet. It is located on the TR-SQUAW CR river/stream and is regulated by the state of Missouri, with no federal oversight.
Despite its high hazard potential, Gordan Lake Dam's condition assessment is currently listed as "Not Rated." The dam has not been inspected recently, and there is no emergency action plan in place. With a surface area of 15 acres and a drainage area of 231 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region. However, the lack of recent inspections and a formal risk assessment raise concerns about its long-term safety and resilience in the face of climate change impacts.
Overall, Gordan Lake Dam serves as a key infrastructure for water management in Holt County, Missouri. Given its high hazard potential and the absence of recent inspections or emergency preparedness measures, there is a pressing need for enhanced monitoring, maintenance, and risk assessment to ensure the dam's continued functionality and safety in the face of evolving climate conditions. Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find the unique characteristics and potential vulnerabilities of Gordan Lake Dam to be both intriguing and concerning in the context of sustainable water management and climate adaptation efforts.
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 Gordan Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri River At Rulo | 39,800 cfs | → |
| Nodaway River Near Graham | 2,150 cfs | → |
| Big Nemaha River At Falls City | 1,470 cfs | → |
| Tarkio River At Fairfax Mo | 540 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At St. Joseph | 51,700 cfs | → |
| One Hundred And Two River At Maryville | 968 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Gordan Lake Dam.
Boat launches
Track Gordan 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 Gordan Lake Dam
Where does the data for Gordan 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 High 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 Gordan Lake Dam.