Arrowhead Lakes Lower Dam

Arrowhead Lakes Lower Dam is an earth dam located in Dent County, Missouri, built in 1973. It carries a High hazard potential classification.

About Arrowhead Lakes Lower Dam

The primary purpose of Arrowhead Lakes Lower 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 Vance Harper (private). It impounds the Tr Meramec River near Cook Station.

The dam stands 27 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 11 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 159 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 360 square miles. Completed in 1973, 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. The most recent inspection on record was 08/20/1979. That was 46 years ago — unusually long for a high-hazard dam, which typically requires more frequent inspections.

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.

High HazardNot Rated ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Not Required

Location

StateMissouri
CountyDent
Nearest CityCook Station
River/StreamTr Meramec River
Coordinates37.69838, -91.50043

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height27 ft
Dam Height27 ft
Year Completed1973 (53 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage159 acre-ft
Max Storage159 acre-ft
Normal Storage79 acre-ft
Surface Area11 acres
Drainage Area360 sq mi

Ownership & Safety

PurposeFlood Risk Reduction
OwnerVANCE HARPER
Owner TypePrivate
Hazard ClassificationHigh
Condition AssessmentNot Rated
Last Inspection08/20/1979
Emergency Action PlanNot Required

Identifiers

NID IDMO30267
Federal IDMO30267
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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