Whetstone Creek Big Lake Dam
Whetstone Creek Big Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Callaway County, Missouri, built in 1956. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
About Whetstone Creek Big Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Whetstone Creek Big Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Mo Dept Of Conservation (state). It impounds the Tr Whetstone Creek near Mineola.
The dam stands 47 feet tall and stretches 500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 26 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 568 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1956, 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 unsatisfactory, indicating serious safety deficiencies exist that require immediate attention or remedial action. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/09/2021.
At 47 feet, this dam is taller than 92% of dams nationwide.
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 | Callaway |
| Nearest City | Mineola |
| River/Stream | Tr Whetstone Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.96600, -91.73482 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Length | 500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1956 (70 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 568 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 568 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 435 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 26 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 783 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | MO DEPT OF CONSERVATION |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 03/09/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO10876 |
| Federal ID | MO10876 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |