Cool Valley Lake Dam
Cool Valley Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Montgomery County, Missouri, built in 1972. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Cool Valley Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Cool Valley Lake Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Ray Oetting (private). It impounds the Price Branch near Jonesburg.
The dam stands 20 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 38 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 407 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 519 square miles. Completed in 1972, 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. The most recent inspection on record was 06/28/1979. That was 46 years ago — unusually long for a high-hazard dam, which typically requires more frequent inspections.
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 | Montgomery |
| Nearest City | Jonesburg |
| River/Stream | Price Branch |
| Coordinates | 38.87479, -91.33929 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Height | 20 ft |
| Year Completed | 1972 (54 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 407 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 407 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 203 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 38 acres |
| Drainage Area | 519 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | RAY OETTING |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 06/28/1979 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO10934 |
| Federal ID | MO10934 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |