Yowell Lake Dam
Yowell Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Mercer County, Missouri, built in 1990. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Yowell Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Yowell Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Dr. James Yowell (private). It impounds the Weldon River near Mill Grove.
The dam stands 23 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 5 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 62 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 105 square miles. Completed in 1990, the structure is 36 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 | Mercer |
| Nearest City | Mill Grove |
| River/Stream | Weldon River |
| Coordinates | 40.34572, -93.58966 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Height | 23 ft |
| Year Completed | 1990 (36 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 62 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 62 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 38 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5 acres |
| Drainage Area | 105 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | DR. JAMES YOWELL |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO12289 |
| Federal ID | MO12289 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |