Memphis Lake Dam
Memphis Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Scotland County, Missouri, built in 1975. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Memphis Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Memphis Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is local government-owned. It impounds the Tr-north Fabius River near Memphis.
The dam stands 61 feet tall and stretches 1,635 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 248 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 6,225 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1975, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/09/2022.
At 61 feet, this dam is taller than 95% of all dams in the United States.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Missouri dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Missouri |
| County | Scotland |
| Nearest City | Memphis |
| River/Stream | Tr-north Fabius River |
| Coordinates | 40.43980, -92.21764 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 61 ft |
| Dam Height | 60 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,635 ft |
| Year Completed | 1975 (51 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 6,225 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 6,225 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 4,109 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 248 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,665 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 03/09/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO10217 |
| Federal ID | MO10217 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |