Mason Memorial Dam

Mason Memorial Dam is an earth dam located in Butler County, Missouri, built in 1970. It carries a High hazard potential classification.

Hazard potentialHighFailure would probably cost lives
ConditionNot assessed
Emergency action planNot reported
Last inspectionNot reported
Height28 ft
Built197056 years ago

Dam profile

NID height · 28 ft
28 FT TWO-STORY HOUSEMEDIAN U.S. DAM · 24 FT

28 ft tall, taller than 62% 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 Mason Memorial Dam

The primary purpose of Mason Memorial Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Willard Mcwilliams (private). It impounds the Tr-aldridge Creek near Poplar Bluff.

The dam stands 28 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 12 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 180 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 150 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.

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
CountyButler
Nearest CityPoplar Bluff
River/StreamTr-aldridge Creek
Coordinates36.87101, -90.49536

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height28 ft
Dam Height28 ft
Year Completed1970 (56 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage180 acre-ft
Max Storage180 acre-ft
Normal Storage92 acre-ft
Surface Area12 acres
Drainage Area150 sq mi

Ownership & Safety

PurposeRecreation
OwnerWillard Mcwilliams
Owner TypePrivate
Hazard ClassificationHigh
Condition AssessmentNot assessed
Emergency Action PlanNot Required

Identifiers

NID IDMO30395
Federal IDMO30395
More InfoState Dam Safety Program