Garms Lake Dam
Garms Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, built in 1968. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Garms Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Garms Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by I.a. Garms & Sons Co (private). It impounds the Tr-cape La Croix near Cape Giraredau.
The dam stands 32 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 6 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 103 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 22 square miles. Completed in 1968, 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 10/30/1980. That was 45 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 | Cape Girardeau |
| Nearest City | Cape Giraredau |
| River/Stream | Tr-cape La Croix |
| Coordinates | 37.36534, -89.59600 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Height | 32 ft |
| Year Completed | 1968 (58 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 103 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 103 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 58 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 6 acres |
| Drainage Area | 22 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | I.A. GARMS & SONS CO |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 10/30/1980 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO31218 |
| Federal ID | MO31218 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |