Sunnen Dam
Sunnen Dam is an earth dam located in Washington County, Missouri, built in 1948. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Sunnen Dam
The primary purpose of Sunnen Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Ymca Of The Ozarks (private). It impounds the Fourche A Renault near Aptue.
The dam stands 51 feet tall and stretches 1,300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 198 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 5,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 26 square miles. Completed in 1948, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/07/2023.
At 51 feet, this dam is taller than 93% of dams nationwide.
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 | Washington |
| Nearest City | Aptue |
| River/Stream | Fourche A Renault |
| Coordinates | 37.95258, -90.92757 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 51 ft |
| Dam Height | 51 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1948 (78 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 5,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 5,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,540 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 198 acres |
| Drainage Area | 26 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 17,364 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | YMCA of the Ozarks |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 03/07/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO30111 |
| Federal ID | MO30111 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |