Mine Lamotte Dam

About Mine Lamotte Dam

The primary purpose of Mine Lamotte Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Bob Henke (private). It impounds the Tr-little St Francois River near Fredericktown.

The dam stands 27 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 18 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 260 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 575 square miles. Completed in 1870, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.

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 09/06/1979. That was 46 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.