Carter Lake Dam-sec 25 Upper is an earth dam located in Lafayette County, Missouri, built in 1969. 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 Carter Lake Dam-sec 25 Upper
The primary purpose of Carter Lake Dam-sec 25 Upper 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 Howard Carter (private). It impounds the Tr-missouri River near Waverly.
The dam stands 25 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 40 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 45 square miles. Completed in 1969, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 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.
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 | Lafayette |
| Nearest City | Waverly |
| River/Stream | Tr-missouri River |
| Coordinates | 39.19926, -93.82791 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Height | 25 ft |
| Year Completed | 1969 (57 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 40 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 40 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 20 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3 acres |
| Drainage Area | 45 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Howard Carter |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO20707 |
| Federal ID | MO20707 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |