Lake Paho Dam
Lake Paho Dam is an earth dam located in Mercer County, Missouri, built in 1951. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Paho Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Paho Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Mo Dept Of Conservation (state). It impounds the West Muddy Creek near Spikard.
The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 1,075 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 269 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 5,884 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1951, 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. 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 11/30/2022.
At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 87% 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 | Mercer |
| Nearest City | Spikard |
| River/Stream | West Muddy Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.39910, -93.65619 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,075 ft |
| Year Completed | 1951 (75 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 5,884 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 5,884 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,477 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 269 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,758 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | MO DEPT OF CONSERVATION |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/30/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO10108 |
| Federal ID | MO10108 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |