Donze Lake Dam

Donze Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri, built in 1969. It carries a High hazard potential classification.

Hazard potentialHighFailure would probably cost lives
ConditionNot assessed
Emergency action planNot reported
Last inspectionNot reported
Height32 ft
Built196957 years ago

Dam profile

NID height · 32 ft
32 FT TWO-STORY HOUSEMEDIAN U.S. DAM · 24 FT

32 ft tall, taller than 74% 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 Donze Lake Dam

The primary purpose of Donze Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Alvin Donze (private). It impounds the Tr-saline Cr near St Marys.

The dam stands 32 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 28 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 479 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 745 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

StateMissouri
CountySte. Genevieve
Nearest CitySt Marys
River/StreamTr-saline Cr
Coordinates37.83280, -90.03343

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height32 ft
Dam Height32 ft
Year Completed1969 (57 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage479 acre-ft
Max Storage479 acre-ft
Normal Storage340 acre-ft
Surface Area28 acres
Drainage Area745 sq mi

Ownership & Safety

PurposeRecreation
OwnerAlvin Donze
Owner TypePrivate
Hazard ClassificationHigh
Condition AssessmentNot assessed
Emergency Action PlanNot Required

Identifiers

NID IDMO30171
Federal IDMO30171
More InfoState Dam Safety Program