Riss Lake Dam
Riss Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Platte County, Missouri, built in 1953. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Riss Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Riss Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Riss Lake Homeowners Asc (private). It impounds the White Aloe Branch near Parkville.
The dam stands 93 feet tall and stretches 1,200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 140 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 7,720 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 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. 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 08/17/2021.
At 93 feet, this dam is taller than 98% 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 | Platte |
| Nearest City | Parkville |
| River/Stream | White Aloe Branch |
| Coordinates | 39.19969, -94.67734 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 93 ft |
| Dam Height | 93 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1953 (73 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 7,720 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 7,720 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 4,300 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 140 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 70 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | RISS LAKE HOMEOWNERS ASC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/17/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO10926 |
| Federal ID | MO10926 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |