Bella Vista Dam
Bella Vista Dam is an earth dam located in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, built in 1971. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Bella Vista Dam
The primary purpose of Bella Vista Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Lake Bella Visa Inc (private). It impounds the Tr Indian Creek near Ware Ill.
The dam stands 49 feet tall and stretches 730 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 40 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 960 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1971, 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. 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 12/20/2022.
At 49 feet, this dam is taller than 92% 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 | Cape Girardeau |
| Nearest City | Ware Ill |
| River/Stream | Tr Indian Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.47220, -89.57857 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 49 ft |
| Dam Height | 49 ft |
| Dam Length | 730 ft |
| Year Completed | 1971 (55 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 960 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 960 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 960 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 40 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 405 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | LAKE BELLA VISA INC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 12/20/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO30211 |
| Federal ID | MO30211 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |