Smithville Dam
Smithville Dam is an earth dam located in Clay County, Missouri, built in 1979. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Smithville Dam
The primary purpose of Smithville 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 Usace - Kansas City District (federal). It impounds the Little Platte River near Smithville.
The dam stands 105 feet tall and stretches 4,000 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 7,190 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 246,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 213 square miles. Completed in 1979, the structure is 47 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/24/2024.
At 105 feet, this dam is taller than 98% 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 | Clay |
| Nearest City | Smithville |
| River/Stream | Little Platte River |
| Coordinates | 39.39602, -94.55616 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 105 ft |
| Dam Length | 4,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1979 (47 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 246,500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 246,500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 144,600 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 7,190 acres |
| Drainage Area | 213 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,830 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Kansas City District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 04/24/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO12084 |
| Federal ID | MO12084 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |