Ashley Branch Dam
Ashley Branch Dam is an earth dam located in Washington County, Missouri, built in 1986. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Ashley Branch Dam
The primary purpose of Ashley Branch Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is private-owned. It impounds the Ashley Branch Creek near Bourbon.
The dam stands 58 feet tall and stretches 1,070 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 105 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,970 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 square miles. Completed in 1986, the structure is 40 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. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/26/2022.
At 58 feet, this dam is taller than 95% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Washington |
| Nearest City | Bourbon |
| River/Stream | Ashley Branch Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.07731, -91.08390 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 58 ft |
| Dam Height | 58 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,070 ft |
| Year Completed | 1986 (40 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,970 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,970 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,970 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 105 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 20,817 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/26/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO31857 |
| Federal ID | MO31857 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |