Walnut Hill Lake Dam
Walnut Hill Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Phelps County, Missouri, built in 1973. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Walnut Hill Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Walnut Hill Lake 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 Ambrose N Lebeau (private). It impounds the Tr-dry Fork River near Gascondy.
The dam stands 20 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 8 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 86 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 28 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.
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 | Phelps |
| Nearest City | Gascondy |
| River/Stream | Tr-dry Fork River |
| Coordinates | 37.99050, -91.54685 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Height | 20 ft |
| Year Completed | 1973 (53 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 86 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 86 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 48 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 8 acres |
| Drainage Area | 28 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | AMBROSE N LEBEAU |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO31335 |
| Federal ID | MO31335 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |