Lona Lou Lake Dam dam
Lona Lou Lake Dam
Located in Millersville, Missouri, the Lona Lou Lake Dam stands as a private entity with a primary purpose of providing fire protection, stock, or serving as a small fish pond. Built in 1975, this earth-type dam boasts a height of 30 feet and a storage capacity of 144 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 90 acre-feet. The dam, situated on Wolf Creek, serves as a vital resource for the surrounding area.
Despite its small surface area of 9 acres, the Lona Lou Lake Dam plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety and well-being of the community, with a high hazard potential due to its purpose and design. While its condition is currently not rated, the dam remains a key feature for local fire protection and recreational activities. With a lack of state regulation and enforcement, the maintenance and upkeep of this essential structure fall solely on its private owner.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Lona Lou Lake Dam represents a fascinating case study in private dam ownership and management. Its significant storage capacity and dual-purpose design make it a valuable asset for both emergency preparedness and leisure activities. As efforts to assess and mitigate potential risks continue, the dam stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of changing climates and growing populations.
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 Lona Lou Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Fork Saline Creek Near Perryville | 20 cfs | → |
| Little St. Francis River At Fredericktown | 3 cfs | → |
| Castor River At Zalma | 147 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Chester | 270,000 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Thebes | 290,000 cfs | → |
| St. Francis River Near Mill Creek | 96 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lona Lou Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Cape Girardeau County
- State Highway U Cape Girardeau County
- Front Street 677, Grand Tower
- Red Star Access
- Water Street Chester
- 2nd Street Thebes
Campgrounds
- Lake Girardeau Conservation Area - Mdc
- Trail Of Tears State Park
- Devils Backbone Park
- Pine Hills Campground
- Pine Hills
- Trail Of Tears State Forest
Paddle runs
- 1/2 Mile Downstream Of Confluence With Kinkaid Creek To Confluence With Mississippi River, Approx 4 Miles South Of Grand Tower, Il
- 1 Mile West Of Alto Pass, Il To 1/2 Mile South Of Confluence With Clear Creek, West Of Trail Of Tears State Forest
- Forest Boundary At North Section Line Of Sec 4, T33n, R5e To Forest Boundary At South Section Line Of Sec 35, T32n, R5e
- Markam Spring Recreation Area To Nf Boundary
Track Lona Lou 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 Lona Lou Lake Dam
Where does the data for Lona Lou 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 Lona Lou Lake Dam.