Barber Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Jackson County, Missouri, built in 1978. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 57 ft57 ft tall and 1,845 ft long, taller than 94% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Barber Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Barber Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Anthony Barber (private). It impounds the Tr to West Fork Sni-a-bar Crk near Lake Lotawana.
The dam stands 57 feet tall and stretches 1,845 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 130 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,186 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 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. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/26/2021.
At 57 feet, this dam is taller than 94% 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.
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 | Lake Lotawana |
| River/Stream | Tr to West Fork Sni-a-bar Crk |
| Coordinates | 38.91157, -94.28158 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 57 ft |
| Dam Height | 57 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,845 ft |
| Year Completed | 1978 (48 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,186 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,186 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,186 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 130 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 381 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Anthony Barber |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/26/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO20570 |
| Federal ID | MO20570 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |