Bair Lake Dam
Bair Lake Dam is an earth dam located in St. Charles County, Missouri, built in 1971. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Bair Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Bair 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 James Bair (private). It impounds the Tr Bigelow Creek near Matson.
The dam stands 32 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 4 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 68 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 65 square miles. Completed in 1971, 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.
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 | St. Charles |
| Nearest City | Matson |
| River/Stream | Tr Bigelow Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.58761, -90.92166 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Height | 32 ft |
| Year Completed | 1971 (55 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 68 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 68 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 35 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 4 acres |
| Drainage Area | 65 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | JAMES BAIR |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO31428 |
| Federal ID | MO31428 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |