Garfield Lake Dam dam
Garfield Lake Dam
Garfield Lake Dam, located in Barton County, Missouri, was completed in 1976 for the primary purpose of irrigation. The dam, owned privately, stands at a height of 14 feet and has a storage capacity of 150 acre-feet. With a normal storage capacity of 67 acre-feet, the dam serves the dual purpose of irrigation and recreation, covering a surface area of 20 acres and draining a watershed area of 390 acres.
Despite being classified as having low hazard potential, Garfield Lake Dam has not been rated for condition assessment. The dam, constructed as an earth core type with buttress foundations, is not regulated by the state and does not require regular inspections or enforcement. The dam does not have a spillway and does not have associated locks. The emergency action plan for the dam has not been prepared, and it is unclear if it meets established guidelines.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Garfield Lake Dam presents an interesting case study of a privately owned structure with a specific focus on irrigation. The dam's location in a rural area of Missouri, along with its minimal regulatory oversight and lack of a comprehensive emergency plan, raises questions about its long-term sustainability and potential risks in the face of changing climate conditions. Further research and assessment of the dam's condition may be needed to ensure its continued safe operation and effective management of water resources in the region.
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 Garfield Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| East Drywood Creek At Prairie State Park | · | → |
| Spring River Near Waco | 802 cfs | → |
| Spring River At Carthage | 581 cfs | → |
| Spring River At Larussell | 429 cfs | → |
| Marmaton River Near Nevada | 332 cfs | → |
| Shoal Creek Above Joplin | 500 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Garfield Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Southwest 50th Road Barton County
- County Lane 251 7909, Jasper County
- County Road 290 Carl Junction
- West Atlantic Street 634, Nevada
Track Garfield 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 Garfield Lake Dam
Where does the data for Garfield 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 Garfield Lake Dam.