Bowman Lake Dam

Bowman Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Maries County, Missouri, built in 1954. It carries a High hazard potential classification.

About Bowman Lake Dam

The primary purpose of Bowman Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Don Bowman (private). It impounds the Tr To Fly Creek near Vienna.

The dam stands 23 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 9 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 111 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 55 square miles. Completed in 1954, 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. The most recent inspection on record was 01/21/1981. That was 45 years ago — unusually long for a high-hazard dam, which typically requires more frequent inspections.

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.

High HazardNot Rated ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Not Required

Location

StateMissouri
CountyMaries
Nearest CityVienna
River/StreamTr To Fly Creek
Coordinates38.17831, -91.95071

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height23 ft
Dam Height23 ft
Year Completed1954 (72 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage111 acre-ft
Max Storage111 acre-ft
Normal Storage60 acre-ft
Surface Area9 acres
Drainage Area55 sq mi

Ownership & Safety

PurposeRecreation
OwnerDON BOWMAN
Owner TypePrivate
Hazard ClassificationHigh
Condition AssessmentNot Rated
Last Inspection01/21/1981
Emergency Action PlanNot Required

Identifiers

NID IDMO30180
Federal IDMO30180
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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