Woodward Lake Dam dam
Woodward Lake Dam
Woodward Lake Dam, located in Jefferson City, Missouri, was completed in 1966 and serves primarily for recreational purposes. This privately owned earth dam with a buttress core stands at 27 feet high and has a storage capacity of 101 acre-feet. Situated on TR Dickerson Creek in Cole County, the dam has a low hazard potential and is currently rated as "Not Rated" in terms of condition assessment.
Managed by the St. Louis District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Woodward Lake Dam has not undergone recent inspections and does not have an Emergency Action Plan in place. Despite being unregulated by the state and having no enforcement or inspection protocols, the dam remains a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts seeking recreational activities such as boating, fishing, and hiking. Its proximity to Jefferson City, combined with its scenic surroundings, make it a valuable asset for the local community.
While lacking recent updates on its condition assessment and emergency preparedness, Woodward Lake Dam continues to provide a serene setting for outdoor recreation in Missouri. With its historical significance dating back to the 1960s, the dam's low hazard potential and remote location on TR Dickerson Creek offer a peaceful escape for water resource and climate enthusiasts 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 Woodward Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri River At Jefferson City | 49,500 cfs | → |
| Moreau River Near Jefferson City | 71 cfs | → |
| Osage River Below St. Thomas | 13,200 cfs | → |
| Maries River At Westphalia | 48 cfs | → |
| Hinkson Creek At Columbia | 6 cfs | → |
| Gasconade River Near Rich Fountain | 1,610 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Woodward Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Callaway County
- Jefferson City
- Mo 179 Cole County
- South River Road Boone County
- Old Ferry Road 10801, Cole County
- Us 50;Us 63 Osage County
Campgrounds
- Binder Park
- Pine Ridge Recreation Area
- Pine Ridge
- Pine Ridge Campground
- Dry Fork Recreation Area
- Dry Fork
Track Woodward 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 Woodward Lake Dam
Where does the data for Woodward 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 Woodward Lake Dam.