Ford Lake Dam
Ford Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Lafayette County, Missouri, built in 1965. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Ford Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Ford Lake Dam is fire protection, stock, or small fish pond. The dam maintains a small impoundment used for fire suppression, livestock watering, or as a fish pond. The dam is owned by Lafayette Soil & Water (local government). It impounds the Tr East Fork Sni-a-bar Creek near Lexington.
The dam stands 25 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 40 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 40 square miles. Completed in 1965, 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 | Lafayette |
| Nearest City | Lexington |
| River/Stream | Tr East Fork Sni-a-bar Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.02850, -94.06395 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Height | 25 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 40 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 40 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 23 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3 acres |
| Drainage Area | 40 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond |
| Owner | LAFAYETTE SOIL & WATER |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO11225 |
| Federal ID | MO11225 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |