Gettinger Lake Dam

About Gettinger Lake Dam

The primary purpose of Gettinger Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Edward Gettinger (private). It impounds the Tr North Fork Charrette Creek near Marthasville.

The dam stands 33 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 17 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 300 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 190 square miles. Completed in 1978, the structure is 48 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.

At 33 feet, this dam is taller than 78% 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.

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