Pickering Lake Dam dam
Pickering Lake Dam
Pickering Lake Dam, located in Sullivan, Missouri, was completed in 1976 for the primary purpose of serving as a Fish and Wildlife Pond. The earth dam stands at a height of 25 feet and has a length of 600 feet, with a storage capacity of 30 acre-feet. Situated on TR-LOCUST CREEK, the dam has a low hazard potential and is currently not rated for condition assessment. Despite being privately owned, the dam poses a moderate risk and has not been regulated or inspected by the state.
The dam, managed by private owners, serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock or small fish pond, grade stabilization, and recreation. With a surface area of 4 acres and a drainage area of 299 square miles, Pickering Lake Dam plays a vital role in the local ecosystem and provides essential water storage for the surrounding area. Although it lacks state jurisdiction and regulatory oversight, the dam's low hazard potential indicates a relatively low risk to downstream communities.
While Pickering Lake Dam has not been recently inspected or rated for condition assessment, its moderate risk level suggests the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance. With a spillway type of uncontrolled and a spillway width of 10 feet, the dam's emergency action plan status and risk management measures remain unclear. As a significant feature in the Rock Island District managed by private owners, Pickering Lake Dam continues to be a key resource for fish and wildlife conservation, as well as recreational activities in 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 Pickering Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine Creek Near Laredo | 92 cfs | → |
| Locust Creek Near Linneus | 67 cfs | → |
| Chariton River At Novinger | 137 cfs | → |
| Thompson River At Trenton | 675 cfs | → |
| Chariton River At Livonia | 45 cfs | → |
| Grand River At Chillicothe | 361 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pickering Lake Dam.
Track Pickering 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 Pickering Lake Dam
Where does the data for Pickering 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 Pickering Lake Dam.