Sellenriek Dam
Sellenriek Dam is an earth dam located in Franklin County, Missouri, built in 1963. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Sellenriek Dam
The primary purpose of Sellenriek 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 Helen Sellenriek (private). It impounds the Tr-big Berger Creek near New Haven.
The dam stands 32 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 10 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 171 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 122 square miles. Completed in 1963, 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 06/27/1979. That was 46 years ago — unusually long for a high-hazard dam, which typically requires more frequent inspections.
At 32 feet, this dam is taller than 76% 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 | Franklin |
| Nearest City | New Haven |
| River/Stream | Tr-big Berger Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.58165, -91.33113 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Height | 32 ft |
| Year Completed | 1963 (63 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 171 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 171 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 90 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 10 acres |
| Drainage Area | 122 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | HELEN SELLENRIEK |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 06/27/1979 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO31048 |
| Federal ID | MO31048 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |