Pepper Lake Dam dam
Pepper Lake Dam
Pepper Lake Dam, located in Sarcoxie, Missouri, stands as a testament to innovation and engineering excellence, completed in 1965 with the primary purpose of providing recreational opportunities for water enthusiasts. The earth dam, with a structural height of 20 feet and a storage capacity of 246 acre-feet, overlooks the picturesque TR Center Creek and covers a surface area of 23 acres. Despite its low hazard potential and unlisted foundation type, the dam has not been inspected or assessed for condition, presenting an intriguing opportunity for further exploration and evaluation by water resource and climate enthusiasts.
Situated in Newton County, Missouri, Pepper Lake Dam offers a tranquil escape for visitors seeking a peaceful retreat amidst the natural beauty of the region. With a drainage area of 1400 acres and a normal storage capacity of 153 acre-feet, the dam provides a serene setting for outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, and wildlife observation. While the dam's emergency action plan and risk management measures remain undisclosed, its strategic location and historical significance make it a valuable asset for conservationists and environmental advocates interested in preserving water resources and promoting sustainable practices.
As part of the Kansas City District, Pepper Lake Dam represents a harmonious blend of human ingenuity and ecological stewardship, embodying the delicate balance between development and conservation. With its unique design features, including a buttress core type and a design height of 20 feet, the dam serves as a symbol of resilience and adaptability in the face of changing climate conditions. As water resource and climate enthusiasts continue to study and monitor the dam's impact on the surrounding ecosystem, Pepper Lake Dam stands as a living testament to the enduring legacy of water management practices in Missouri.
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 Pepper Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Spring River At Larussell | 153 cfs | → |
| Spring River At Carthage | 252 cfs | → |
| Shoal Creek Above Joplin | 271 cfs | → |
| Big Sugar Creek Near Powell | 49 cfs | → |
| Spring River Near Waco | 372 cfs | → |
| Turnback Creek Above Greenfield | 96 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pepper Lake Dam.
Track Pepper 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 Pepper Lake Dam
Where does the data for Pepper 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 Pepper Lake Dam.