Houska-Vehige Dam dam
Houska-Vehige Dam
Houska-Vehige Dam, located in Starkenburg, Missouri, is a privately owned earth dam with a height of 42 feet and a hydraulic height of 36 feet. It was designed by ROBERT HEAGLER and is regulated by the DAM AND RESERVOIR SAFETY PROGRAM in Missouri. The dam has a storage capacity of 328 acre-feet and serves the primary purpose of flood control on the unnamed tributary of Modak Creek.
With a hazard potential rated as high and a condition assessment of satisfactory, Houska-Vehige Dam poses a moderate risk to the surrounding area. The dam has a drainage area of 115 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 76 cubic feet per second. Despite the absence of outlet gates, the dam has an uncontrolled spillway type and a surface area of 15 acres.
The last inspection of Houska-Vehige Dam was conducted on September 19, 2017, with a frequency of every three years. The emergency action plan was last revised on February 20, 2015, and the dam meets regulatory guidelines. Overall, Houska-Vehige Dam is a vital structure for managing water resources in Montgomery County, Missouri, and plays a crucial role in mitigating flood risks in the region.
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 Houska-Vehige Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri River At Hermann | 133,000 cfs | → |
| Gasconade River Near Rich Fountain | 1,710 cfs | → |
| Maries River At Westphalia | 363 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Jefferson City | 102,000 cfs | → |
| Cuivre River Near Troy | 1,170 cfs | → |
| Bourbeuse River At Union | 329 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Houska-Vehige Dam.
Boat launches
- Gasconade
- Wharf Street 200, Hermann
- Loutre River Trail Montgomery County
- Chamois
- Katy Trail Warren County
- Callaway County
Campgrounds
- Hermann City Rv Park
- Graham Cave State Park
- Camping @ Graham Cave State Park
- Chamois Access - Mdc
- Camp Trinity
- Rollins Ferry Access - Mdc
Paddle runs
Track Houska-Vehige 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 Houska-Vehige Dam
Where does the data for Houska-Vehige 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 Houska-Vehige Dam.