Dysart Lake Dam
Dysart Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Andrew County, Missouri, built in 1960. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Dysart Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Dysart Lake Dam is debris control. The dam is designed to catch sediment, rocks, and debris carried by flowing water — particularly important in areas prone to mudslides or heavy erosion. The dam is owned by Howard Dysart (private). It impounds the Tr-arapahoe Creek near St Joseph.
The dam stands 25 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 8 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 107 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 170 square miles. Completed in 1960, 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.
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 | Andrew |
| Nearest City | St Joseph |
| River/Stream | Tr-arapahoe Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.09668, -94.96892 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Height | 25 ft |
| Year Completed | 1960 (66 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 107 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 107 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 66 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 8 acres |
| Drainage Area | 170 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Debris Control |
| Owner | HOWARD DYSART |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO11065 |
| Federal ID | MO11065 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |