Hurdland Severs Lake Dam

Hurdland Severs Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Knox County, Missouri, built in 1953. It carries a High hazard potential classification.

About Hurdland Severs Lake Dam

The primary purpose of Hurdland Severs Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Sever Est Knox Co Court (private). It impounds the Tr-little Fabius River near Novelty.

The dam stands 31 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 15 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 249 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 61 square miles. Completed in 1953, 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.

High HazardNot Rated ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Not Required

Location

StateMissouri
CountyKnox
Nearest CityNovelty
River/StreamTr-little Fabius River
Coordinates40.11199, -92.29369

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height31 ft
Dam Height31 ft
Year Completed1953 (73 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage249 acre-ft
Max Storage249 acre-ft
Normal Storage135 acre-ft
Surface Area15 acres
Drainage Area61 sq mi

Ownership & Safety

PurposeRecreation
OwnerSEVER EST KNOX CO COURT
Owner TypePrivate
Hazard ClassificationHigh
Condition AssessmentNot Rated
Emergency Action PlanNot Required

Identifiers

NID IDMO10145
Federal IDMO10145
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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