Blue Springs Dam
Blue Springs Dam is a rockfill dam located in Jackson County, Missouri, built in 1988. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Blue Springs Dam
The primary purpose of Blue Springs Dam 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 Usace - Kansas City District (federal). It impounds the East Fork Little Blue River near Lees Summit.
The dam stands 70 feet tall and stretches 2,500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 722 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 26,950 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 32 square miles. Completed in 1988, the structure is 38 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/01/2023.
At 70 feet, this dam is taller than 96% 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 | Jackson |
| Nearest City | Lees Summit |
| River/Stream | East Fork Little Blue River |
| Coordinates | 39.01660, -94.33956 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 70 ft |
| Dam Height | 70 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1988 (38 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 26,950 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 26,950 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 10,842 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 722 acres |
| Drainage Area | 32 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 24,639 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Kansas City District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 05/01/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO12099 |
| Federal ID | MO12099 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |