Lake Forest Dam
Lake Forest Dam is an earth dam located in Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri, built in 1970. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Forest Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Forest Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Lake Forest Est.assoc. (private). It impounds the Big Bottom Creek near Bloomsdale.
The dam stands 47 feet tall and stretches 650 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 87 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1970, 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. 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 03/07/2023.
At 47 feet, this dam is taller than 92% 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 | Ste. Genevieve |
| Nearest City | Bloomsdale |
| River/Stream | Big Bottom Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.95347, -90.20647 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Length | 650 ft |
| Year Completed | 1970 (56 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,100 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 87 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,309 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | LAKE FOREST EST.ASSOC. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 03/07/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO30087 |
| Federal ID | MO30087 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |