Paw-Paw Lake Dam dam
Paw-Paw Lake Dam
Paw-Paw Lake Dam, located in Cedar Hill, Missouri, is a privately owned earth dam primarily used for recreation purposes. Completed in 1950, this 28-foot high structure has a storage capacity of 180 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 12 acres. The dam is situated on TR to Dry Creek in Jefferson County and is under the jurisdiction of the Kansas City District. Despite being privately owned, the dam is not regulated or inspected by the state.
With a high hazard potential, Paw-Paw Lake Dam poses a potential risk to the surrounding area in the event of a failure. However, the condition of the dam is currently listed as "Not Rated," and there is no established Emergency Action Plan in place. The dam has not been assessed for risk management measures, and no inundation maps or risk assessments have been prepared. As a result, there are unanswered questions regarding the safety and maintenance of this important water resource structure.
Enthusiasts interested in water resources and climate may find Paw-Paw Lake Dam intriguing due to its historic significance, recreational purpose, and potential hazard. The lack of state regulation and inspection raises concerns about the safety and maintenance of the dam, making it a topic of interest for those passionate about the preservation and management of water resources in the region. Further research and analysis are needed to evaluate the risk and ensure the long-term sustainability of this key 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 Paw-Paw Lake 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 | → |
| Big River Below Desloge | 80 cfs | → |
| Big River At Irondale | 44 cfs | → |
| Meramec River At Pacific | 1,300 cfs | → |
| Meramec River Near Eureka | 1,770 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Paw-Paw Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Choctaw Drive St. Francois County
- Williamson Road Oakville
- Ellis Grove Parkway Jefferson County
- Highway W Franklin County
- Meramec State Park Franklin County
- Lemay Ferry Road Oakville
Campgrounds
- Washington State Park
- St. Francois State Park
- Robertsville State Park
- St. Joe State Park
- Brazil Creek Trailhead
- Backpack Camp 8
Fishing spots
Track Paw-Paw 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 Paw-Paw Lake Dam
Where does the data for Paw-Paw 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 Paw-Paw Lake Dam.