Izaak Walton Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Vernon County, Missouri, built in 1926. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 25 ft25 ft tall, taller than 50% 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 Izaak Walton Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Izaak Walton Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by City of Nevada (local government). It impounds the Tr to White Branch near Nevada.
The dam stands 25 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 10 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 134 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1,000 square miles. Completed in 1926, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 | Vernon |
| Nearest City | Nevada |
| River/Stream | Tr to White Branch |
| Coordinates | 37.85226, -94.36647 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Height | 25 ft |
| Year Completed | 1926 (100 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 134 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 134 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 67 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 10 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1,000 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | City of Nevada |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO20048 |
| Federal ID | MO20048 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |