Mechlin Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Macon County, Missouri, built in 1975. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 31 ft31 ft tall, taller than 72% 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 Mechlin Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Mechlin Lake Dam is debris control. The dam is designed to catch sediment, rocks, and debris carried by flowing water — particularly important in areas prone to mudslides or heavy erosion. The dam is owned by Melvin Mechlin (private). It impounds the Tr-middle Fork Salt River near Macon.
The dam stands 31 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 7 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 116 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 30 square miles. Completed in 1975, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life.
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Location
| State | Missouri |
| County | Macon |
| Nearest City | Macon |
| River/Stream | Tr-middle Fork Salt River |
| Coordinates | 39.81595, -92.43430 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Height | 31 ft |
| Year Completed | 1975 (51 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 116 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 116 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 86 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 7 acres |
| Drainage Area | 30 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Debris Control |
| Owner | Melvin Mechlin |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO11666 |
| Federal ID | MO11666 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |