Baird Lake Dam dam
Baird Lake Dam
Baird Lake Dam, located in Caplinger Mills, Missouri, is a private Earth dam with a structural height of 25 feet and a storage capacity of 54 acre-feet. The dam, constructed on the TR-Little Sac River, serves a primary purpose of "Other" and has a low hazard potential. While not currently rated for condition assessment, the dam has not been regulated or inspected by the state, indicating potential concerns for long-term maintenance and safety.
Despite its modest size and limited regulatory oversight, Baird Lake Dam presents a valuable case study for water resource and climate enthusiasts. The dam's location in Cedar County, Missouri, within the jurisdiction of the Little Rock District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, highlights the importance of understanding the diverse landscape of dam infrastructure across the United States. With a drainage area of 110 square miles and a normal storage capacity of 33 acre-feet, the dam plays a role in managing water resources and flood risk in the region.
As concerns around climate change and extreme weather events grow, the condition and management of dams like Baird Lake Dam become increasingly important. While the dam currently has no Emergency Action Plan or documented risk assessment, its presence on the TR-Little Sac River underscores the need for proactive monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and resilience of our water infrastructure in the face of evolving environmental challenges.
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 Baird Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sac River At Hwy J Below Stockton | 1,310 cfs | → |
| Sac River Near Dadeville | 254 cfs | → |
| Little Sac River Near Morrisville | 241 cfs | → |
| Turnback Creek Above Greenfield | 301 cfs | → |
| Cedar Creek Near Pleasant View | 243 cfs | → |
| Pomme De Terre River Near Polk | 167 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Baird Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Highway Ra 19499, Cedar County
- Highway Ra Dade County
- Cedar County
- County Road 1791 Cedar County
- East Cove Drive Umber View Heights
- South 1527 Road 17499, Cedar County
Track Baird 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 Baird Lake Dam
Where does the data for Baird 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 Baird Lake Dam.