Oakwood Lake Dam dam
Oakwood Lake Dam
Oakwood Lake Dam, located in Kansas City, Missouri, was completed in 1930 and serves primarily for irrigation purposes. This private-owned rockfill dam stands at a height of 30 feet and has a storage capacity of 80 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 40 acre-feet. Situated on the TR-Blue River, the dam has a drainage area of 270 square miles and covers a surface area of 5 acres.
Despite not being state-regulated, Oakwood Lake Dam has a high hazard potential, although its condition assessment is currently not rated. The dam's emergency action plan status, risk assessment, and management measures remain unspecified. With no federal agency involvement, the dam's maintenance and inspection responsibilities fall solely on its private owner. Water resource and climate enthusiasts may find Oakwood Lake Dam an intriguing structure due to its historical significance and regional importance in supporting local irrigation needs.
As an essential component of the local water infrastructure, Oakwood Lake Dam represents a critical asset in managing water resources in the region. Its presence underscores the importance of maintaining and monitoring dams for irrigation purposes, highlighting the need for proactive risk assessment and emergency preparedness. With its high hazard potential and lack of state regulation, the dam serves as a reminder of the challenges associated with private ownership of crucial water management infrastructure. As climate change impacts water resources, understanding and addressing the risks associated with dams like Oakwood Lake Dam become increasingly vital for ensuring the safety and sustainability of water systems 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 Oakwood Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Blue River At Kansas City | 2,810 cfs | → |
| Indian C At State Line Rd | 1,190 cfs | → |
| Blue River At Blue Ridge Blvd Ext In Kc | 1,520 cfs | → |
| Tomahawk C Nr Overland Park | 241 cfs | → |
| Indian C At Overland Park | 349 cfs | → |
| Brush Creek At Ward Parkway In Kansas City | 39 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Oakwood Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- River Trail Kansas City
- Southeast Raytown Road Lee's Summit
- East Loch Lloyd Parkway Loch Lloyd
- Kaw Point Boat Ramp
- Lee's Summit
- River Front Park Kansas City
Track Oakwood 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 Oakwood Lake Dam
Where does the data for Oakwood 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 Oakwood Lake Dam.