Lipps Lake Dam dam
Lipps Lake Dam
Located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Lipps Lake Dam is a privately-owned structure that serves primarily for recreational purposes. Built in 1973, this earth dam stands at a height of 72 feet and has a length of 1000 feet, with a storage capacity of 257 acre-feet. The dam is situated on the TR-Indian Creek river or stream and is regulated and inspected by the Dam and Reservoir Safety Program of Missouri.
With a hazard potential rated as high, Lipps Lake Dam has been assessed as being in satisfactory condition as of 2011. The dam has a drainage area of 60 square miles and a normal storage capacity of 142 acre-feet, providing an 8-acre surface area for recreational activities. While the structure does not feature spillways or outlet gates, it is regularly inspected every two years to ensure its safety and adherence to regulatory standards.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Lipps Lake Dam offers a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of human infrastructure and natural ecosystems. As a key player in the local recreational landscape, the dam stands as a testament to the importance of proper maintenance and regulatory oversight in ensuring the safety and sustainability of water resource management systems. With its rich history and significant storage capacity, Lipps Lake Dam represents a vital piece of the Missouri water infrastructure network that continues to serve both practical and leisurely purposes.
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 Lipps Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi River At Thebes | 269,000 cfs | → |
| Big Muddy River At Rte 127 At Murphysboro | 523 cfs | → |
| South Fork Saline Creek Near Perryville | 21 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Chester | 247,000 cfs | → |
| Cache River At Forman | 3 cfs | → |
| Castor River At Zalma | 158 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lipps Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Cape Girardeau County
- Red Star Access
- Front Street 677, Grand Tower
- Clear Creek Levee Road Union County
- 2nd Street Thebes
- Cedar Creek Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Trail Of Tears State Park
- Pine Hills Campground
- Pine Hills
- Trail Of Tears State Forest
- Devils Backbone Park
- Turkey Bayou
Paddle runs
- 1 Mile West Of Alto Pass, Il To 1/2 Mile South Of Confluence With Clear Creek, West Of Trail Of Tears State Forest
- 1/2 Mile Downstream Of Confluence With Kinkaid Creek To Confluence With Mississippi River, Approx 4 Miles South Of Grand Tower, Il
- Forest Boundary At North Section Line Of Sec 4, T33n, R5e To Forest Boundary At South Section Line Of Sec 35, T32n, R5e
- 1 Minle Southwest Of Delwood, Il (Sec. 18, T11s, R13e) To Reesville, 1/4 Mile South Of The Confluence With Sugar Creek
- Bridge At Eddyville Blacktop To Confluence With Ohio River At Golconda,Il
- Source, About 2 Miles East Of Delwood, Il (Sec 10, T11s, R6e) To Bridge At Eddyville Blacktop (Se1/4,Sec.16,T12s, R6e)
Track Lipps 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 Lipps Lake Dam
Where does the data for Lipps 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 Lipps Lake Dam.