Sporich Lake Dam dam
Sporich Lake Dam
Sporich Lake Dam, located on TR Terre Bleue Creek in St. Francois County, Missouri, was completed in 1969 and serves as a recreational water resource for the local community. The dam, primarily owned by a private entity, stands at a height of 30 feet and has a storage capacity of 96 acre-feet. With a surface area of 6 acres and a drainage area of 420 acres, the dam provides a serene environment for outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, and birdwatching.
Despite being classified as a low hazard potential structure, Sporich Lake Dam has not undergone a recent condition assessment and is currently not rated for its structural integrity. The dam does not have a designated spillway type or outlet gates, indicating a need for further inspection and maintenance. While the dam has not been regulated by the state and does not fall under state jurisdiction for permitting or inspection, it remains a crucial water resource for the local community and visitors to enjoy.
In the face of increasing concerns about water resource management and climate change, the importance of properly maintaining and monitoring dams like Sporich Lake Dam cannot be understated. With its peaceful surroundings and recreational opportunities, the dam serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between human enjoyment and environmental stewardship in the face of changing climates and water resource 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 Sporich Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big River Below Desloge | 80 cfs | → |
| Big River At Irondale | 44 cfs | → |
| Big River Near Richwoods | 346 cfs | → |
| Big River At Byrnesville | 361 cfs | → |
| Little St. Francis River At Fredericktown | 17 cfs | → |
| St. Francis River Near Mill Creek | 107 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sporich Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Choctaw Drive St. Francois County
- Bismarch Lake Road St. Francois County
- Phegley Resort Lane Randolph County
- Council Bluff Lake Trail Washington County
- Enough Boat Launch And Trailhead
- Williamson Road Oakville
Campgrounds
- St. Francois State Park
- St. Joe State Park
- Washington State Park
- Hawn State Park
- Silver Mines
- Silver Mines Recreation Area
Fishing spots
Track Sporich 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 Sporich Lake Dam
Where does the data for Sporich 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 Sporich Lake Dam.