Frank Milne Dam (dry) is an earth dam located in Holt County, Missouri, built in 1972. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 39 ft39 ft tall and 455 ft long, taller than 85% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Frank Milne Dam (dry)
The primary purpose of Frank Milne Dam (dry) is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Mo Dept of Conservation (state). It impounds the Whales Creek near St Joseph.
The dam stands 39 feet tall and stretches 455 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 8 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 64 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 867 square miles. Completed in 1972, 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. The most recent inspection on record was 03/13/2000. That was 26 years ago — unusually long for a high-hazard dam, which typically requires more frequent inspections.
At 39 feet, this dam is taller than 85% 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 | Holt |
| Nearest City | St Joseph |
| River/Stream | Whales Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.91695, -95.10582 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 39 ft |
| Dam Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Length | 455 ft |
| Year Completed | 1972 (54 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 64 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 64 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 32 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 8 acres |
| Drainage Area | 867 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 270 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Mo Dept of Conservation |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 03/13/2000 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO11029 |
| Federal ID | MO11029 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |