Wales Lake Dam
Wales Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Buchanan County, Missouri, built in 1956. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Wales Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Wales Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Mrs Russel Wales (private). It impounds the Tr-platte River near Agency.
The dam stands 20 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 15 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 160 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 140 square miles. Completed in 1956, 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 | Buchanan |
| Nearest City | Agency |
| River/Stream | Tr-platte River |
| Coordinates | 39.79975, -94.70077 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Height | 20 ft |
| Year Completed | 1956 (70 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 160 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 160 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 100 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 15 acres |
| Drainage Area | 140 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | MRS RUSSEL WALES |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO10524 |
| Federal ID | MO10524 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |