Cowan Lake Dam dam
Cowan Lake Dam
Cowan Lake Dam, located in Carroll County, Missouri, is a privately owned earth dam measuring 25 feet in height. Built on TR-Cottonwood Creek, the dam serves a primary purpose of "Other" and has a storage capacity of 80 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 50 acre-feet. The dam has a low hazard potential and is currently rated as "Not Rated" in terms of its condition assessment.
Even though Cowan Lake Dam is not regulated by the state and does not have a designated state agency overseeing its inspection or enforcement, it still plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area. With a drainage area of 33 square miles and a surface area of 6 acres, the dam helps in flood control and water storage for various purposes. Despite its modest size and limited features, Cowan Lake Dam contributes to the overall water resource management in the region.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is important to recognize the significance of structures like Cowan Lake Dam in maintaining a balanced ecosystem and ensuring water availability for various needs. While the dam may not have undergone recent inspections or rating assessments, its presence and function are integral to the local community and surrounding environment. As stewards of water resources, it is essential to monitor and support the maintenance of dams like Cowan Lake to sustainably manage our water systems for the future.
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 Cowan Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Shoal Creek Near Braymer Mo | 38 cfs | → |
| Grand River At Chillicothe | 361 cfs | → |
| Wakenda Creek At Carrollton | 25 cfs | → |
| Grand River Near Sumner | 1,030 cfs | → |
| Crooked River Near Richmond | 21 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Waverly | 39,300 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cowan Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Green Hills Trail Livingston County
- Crown Drive Linn County
- State Highway M Bosworth
- Livingston County
- Lexington
- Raum Road Ray County
Track Cowan 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 Cowan Lake Dam
Where does the data for Cowan 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 Cowan Lake Dam.