Tom Smith Lake West dam
Tom Smith Lake West
Tom Smith Lake West, located in Jackson County, Missouri, is a privately owned dam on a tributary of the Blue River. The dam, designed by David Brucker, is classified as an Earth dam with a buttress core type and stands at a height of 50 feet. With a storage capacity of 302 acre-feet and a surface area of 13.6 acres, the dam serves multiple purposes while also posing a high hazard potential.
Maintained by the Dam and Reservoir Safety Program in Missouri, Tom Smith Lake West has undergone regular inspections, with its condition assessed as satisfactory as of August 2009. Despite its moderate risk level, the dam has a history of meeting regulatory guidelines and having emergency action plans in place. It is crucial for water resource and climate enthusiasts to monitor the maintenance and operation of Tom Smith Lake West to ensure the safety and sustainability of this vital water resource.
The location of Tom Smith Lake West near Stanley, KS, highlights its significance in managing water resources in the region. With a drainage area of 419 square miles and a normal storage capacity of 232 acre-feet, the dam plays a crucial role in flood control and water supply management. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the proper regulation and maintenance of dams like Tom Smith Lake West are essential to mitigate risks and ensure the resilience of our water infrastructure in the face of evolving environmental 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 Tom Smith Lake West -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Blue R At Kenneth Rd | 92 cfs | → |
| Blue River At Blue Ridge Blvd Ext In Kc | 137 cfs | → |
| Tomahawk C Nr Overland Park | 23 cfs | → |
| Indian C At State Line Rd | 105 cfs | → |
| Blue R Nr Stanley | 60 cfs | → |
| Blue River At Kansas City | 291 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Tom Smith Lake West.
Boat launches
- East Loch Lloyd Parkway Loch Lloyd
- River Trail Kansas City
- Southeast Raytown Road Lee's Summit
- Cass County
- Lee's Summit
- South Lake Road Cass County
Track Tom Smith Lake West 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 Tom Smith Lake West
Where does the data for Tom Smith Lake West 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 Tom Smith Lake West.