Clearwater Dam
Clearwater Dam is an earth dam located in Wayne County, Missouri, built in 1942. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Clearwater Dam
The primary purpose of Clearwater 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 - Little Rock District (federal). It impounds the Black near Leeper.
The dam stands 155 feet tall and stretches 4,225 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,630 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 413,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 898 square miles. Completed in 1942, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/24/2023.
At 155 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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 | Wayne |
| Nearest City | Leeper |
| River/Stream | Black |
| Coordinates | 37.13495, -90.77089 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 155 ft |
| Dam Height | 154 ft |
| Dam Length | 4,225 ft |
| Year Completed | 1942 (84 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 413,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 413,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 22,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,630 acres |
| Drainage Area | 898 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 310,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Little Rock District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 04/24/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO30203 |
| Federal ID | MO30203 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |