Coats Lake Dam dam
Coats Lake Dam
Coats Lake Dam, located in Lafayette, Missouri, serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock, and small fish pond. Built in 1979, this privately owned earth dam stands at a height of 40 feet and stretches 530 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 90 acre-feet, the dam is situated on the TR-East Fork Sni-a Bar Creek and is regulated by the DAM AND RESERVOIR SAFETY PROG of Missouri. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam is currently in satisfactory condition as per its last assessment in 2007.
The dam's primary purpose of fire protection and water supply for stock and fish pond highlights its importance in the local community. With a drainage area of 250 acres and a surface area of 8 acres, Coats Lake Dam plays a vital role in managing water resources in the area. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with a width of 40 feet, providing a means for excess water to safely flow out during periods of heavy rainfall. The dam's risk assessment is moderate, indicating a need for continued monitoring and maintenance to ensure its safety and functionality.
Coats Lake Dam's strategic location and design make it a key player in water resource management in the region. As a privately owned structure, it is subject to state regulations, inspections, and enforcement to uphold safety standards. With a focus on maintaining its condition and risk management measures, the dam serves as a crucial asset for fire protection and water supply, catering to the needs of the surrounding community while also contributing to the overall ecological balance of the 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 Coats Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Blue River Near Lake City | 76 cfs | → |
| East Fork Little Blue River Nr Blue Springs | 10 cfs | → |
| Crooked River Near Richmond | 20 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Waverly | 38,600 cfs | → |
| Blue River At Stadium Drive In Kc | 93 cfs | → |
| Blue River At Kansas City | 74 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Coats Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Odessa Lake Road Lafayette County
- Lafayette County
- Lexington
- Mo 210 Ray County
- Northwest 575th Road Johnson County
- Clay County
Track Coats 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 Coats Lake Dam
Where does the data for Coats 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 Coats Lake Dam.