Covington Dam dam
Covington Dam
Covington Dam in Vernon, Missouri, is a privately owned structure primarily designed for flood risk reduction along the TR Robinson Branch. Completed in 1958, this earth dam stands at a height of 15 feet and has a storage capacity of 80 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 35 acre-feet. The dam serves a dual purpose of flood risk reduction and recreation, providing a valuable resource for the local community.
Despite being privately owned, Covington Dam falls under state jurisdiction with no state regulation, permitting, inspection, or enforcement. With a low hazard potential and a condition assessment that is not rated, the dam has not been subjected to any emergency action plans or risk assessments. While the dam has not been modified in recent years, it remains an important infrastructure for flood control in the area, serving as a critical structure for water resource management and climate resilience in the region.
Located in Oak Ridge, Missouri, Covington Dam is a vital component of the Kansas City District's flood risk reduction strategy. With its buttress core type and 10-acre surface area, the dam plays a crucial role in water management for the 70-acre drainage area it serves. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is important to recognize the significance of Covington Dam in safeguarding the local community from potential flooding events and to support ongoing efforts to ensure its continued safety and functionality.
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 Covington Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Marmaton River Near Nevada | 1,340 cfs | → |
| Little Osage R. At Horton | 2,210 cfs | → |
| Cedar Creek Near Pleasant View | 357 cfs | → |
| Sac River Near Caplinger Mills | 4,170 cfs | → |
| Sac River At Hwy J Below Stockton | 1,060 cfs | → |
| Marmaton R Nr Fort Scott | 342 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Covington Dam.
Boat launches
- West Atlantic Street 634, Nevada
- South 1500 Road Vernon County
- State Highway H St. Clair County
- Vernon County
- Bates County
- I 49;Us 71 Bates County
Track Covington 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 Covington Dam
Where does the data for Covington 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 Covington Dam.