Seven Lakes #2

About Seven Lakes #2

The primary purpose of Seven Lakes #2 is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Paul Shy, Jr. (private). It impounds the Goose Creek near Des Arc.

The dam stands 28 feet tall and stretches 600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 15 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 138 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1,043 square miles. Completed in 1944, 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. The most recent inspection on record was 04/04/1978. That was 48 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.

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