Williams Dam dam
Williams Dam
Williams Dam, located in Festus, Missouri, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1965 primarily for recreational purposes. Standing at a height of 26 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 125 acre-feet and serves the community by providing a surface area of 9 acres for various water-based activities. The dam is situated along the Joachim Creek, within the jurisdiction of Jefferson County, Missouri.
Despite its recreational function, Williams Dam poses a high hazard potential due to its condition being unrated and not inspected since 1978. With no state regulations in place and no enforced inspections, there are concerns about the dam's safety and the potential risks it may pose to the surrounding area in case of failure. Additionally, the dam lacks emergency action plans and updated contact information, highlighting the need for improved risk management measures and adherence to safety guidelines.
Given its critical condition and high hazard potential, there is a pressing need for a comprehensive assessment and maintenance plan for Williams Dam. Climate and water resource enthusiasts should advocate for increased oversight and investment in the dam's infrastructure to ensure public safety, protect the environment, and preserve the recreational opportunities it offers. It is essential to address the existing deficiencies, update emergency preparedness measures, and conduct regular inspections to mitigate risks and enhance the resilience of this vital water resource infrastructure.
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 Williams Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big River Near Richwoods | 346 cfs | → |
| Big River At Byrnesville | 361 cfs | → |
| Mattese Creek Near Mattese | 4 cfs | → |
| Fenton Creek Near Fenton | 1 cfs | → |
| Meramec River Near Eureka | 1,770 cfs | → |
| Martigney Creek Near Arnold | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Williams Dam.
Boat launches
- Williamson Road Oakville
- Ellis Grove Parkway Jefferson County
- Choctaw Drive St. Francois County
- Lemay Ferry Road Oakville
- Allen Road 204, Fenton
- Allen Road Fenton
Campgrounds
- Washington State Park
- St. Francois State Park
- Robertsville State Park
- St. Joe State Park
- Hawn State Park
- Babler Memorial State Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Williams 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 Williams Dam
Where does the data for Williams 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 Williams Dam.