Ralph's Lake Dam dam
Ralph's Lake Dam
Ralph's Lake Dam, located in Buchanan, Missouri, was completed in 1975 and serves as a recreational structure with a primary purpose of providing leisure activities for water resource and climate enthusiasts. This privately owned Earth dam stands at 15 feet in height and has a storage capacity of 80 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 50 acre-feet. The dam is situated on TR-Candy Creek and is under the jurisdiction of the Rock Island District of the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Despite its low hazard potential, Ralph's Lake Dam has not been rated for its condition assessment. The dam does not currently have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place, nor has it undergone recent inspections or maintenance activities. While the dam may not pose an immediate threat, it is crucial for the owners and relevant regulatory agencies to ensure that proper risk assessment and management measures are implemented to safeguard the surrounding community and environment in the event of any unforeseen emergencies or incidents. As such, it is important for water resource and climate enthusiasts to stay informed about the status of Ralph's Lake Dam and advocate for appropriate safety protocols to be established.
In light of the lack of recent data on inspections, condition assessments, and emergency preparedness for Ralph's Lake Dam, there is a pressing need for increased transparency and accountability in monitoring the structural integrity and potential risks associated with the dam. Water resource and climate enthusiasts should actively engage with local authorities and stakeholders to advocate for the implementation of necessary safety measures and regular maintenance practices to ensure the long-term sustainability and safety of Ralph's Lake Dam for both recreational and environmental purposes. By fostering a collaborative approach to dam management and risk mitigation, stakeholders can work together to protect the surrounding community and natural resources while promoting responsible stewardship of this vital water infrastructure.
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 Ralph's Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Platte River Near Agency | 13,800 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At St. Joseph | 51,700 cfs | → |
| Platte River At Sharps Station | 14,200 cfs | → |
| Little Platte River Near Plattsburg | 10 cfs | → |
| Little Platte River At Smithville | 32 cfs | → |
| Stranger C Nr Potter | 199 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ralph's Lake Dam.
Track Ralph's 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 Ralph's Lake Dam
Where does the data for Ralph's 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 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 Ralph's Lake Dam.