Yows Lake Dam dam
Yows Lake Dam
Yows Lake Dam, located in Eldon, Missouri, was completed in 1977 and serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock, and small fish pond management. This privately owned Earth dam stands at a height of 30 feet and has a storage capacity of 160 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 80 acre-feet. The dam is situated on a tributary to Wilkes Creek and covers a surface area of 10 acres, draining a 200-acre watershed.
Despite its low hazard potential, Yows Lake Dam does not fall under state regulation or inspection. The condition of the dam is currently not rated, and there is no emergency action plan in place. While the dam does not have a spillway or outlet gates, it continues to provide essential services to the local community and supports recreational activities in the area. The dam's location within Morgan County, Missouri, adds to its importance in water resource management for the region.
Yows Lake Dam, owned and operated by a private entity, plays a crucial role in supporting the surrounding ecosystem and providing essential water resources for fire protection and recreational activities. With its strategic location and storage capacity, the dam serves as a key infrastructure for managing water supply and sustaining the local environment. While it may not be subject to regular inspections or state regulations, the dam's significance in the region cannot be understated for water resource and climate enthusiasts alike.
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 Yows Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Osage River Near Bagnell | 13,700 cfs | → |
| Osage River Below St. Thomas | 18,300 cfs | → |
| Moreau River Near Jefferson City | 110 cfs | → |
| Lamine River Near Otterville | 98 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Jefferson City | 51,500 cfs | → |
| Niangua River At Tunnel Dam Near Macks Creek | 396 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Yows Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Cofman Beach Access Boat Ramp
- Gravois Mills Acess Boat Ramp
- Bluebird 17, Lake Ozark
- Bagnell Dam Access Boat Ramp
- Chaney Road Lake Ozark
- River Road 218, Tuscumbia
Campgrounds
Track Yows 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 Yows Lake Dam
Where does the data for Yows 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 Yows Lake Dam.