Dead Mans Hole Dam is an earth dam located in Buchanan County, Missouri. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 32 ft32 ft tall, taller than 74% 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 Dead Mans Hole Dam
Dead Mans Hole Dam is a dam in Buchanan, Missouri. The dam is owned by Sonnenmoser Bros (private). It impounds the Tr-missouri River near Atchison.
The dam stands 32 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 51 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 110 square miles.
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 | Atchison |
| River/Stream | Tr-missouri River |
| Coordinates | 39.56492, -95.03682 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Height | 32 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 51 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 51 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 40 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3 acres |
| Drainage Area | 110 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | Sonnenmoser Bros |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO11101 |
| Federal ID | MO11101 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |