Lake Ararat Dam is an earth dam located in Jefferson County, Missouri, built in 1960. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 34 ft34 ft tall, taller than 78% 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 Lake Ararat Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Ararat Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Claude Cole (private). It impounds the Heads Creek near House Springs.
The dam stands 34 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 16 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 291 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 190 square miles. Completed in 1960, 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 11/29/1979. That was 46 years ago — unusually long for a high-hazard dam, which typically requires more frequent inspections.
At 34 feet, this dam is taller than 78% 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 | Jefferson |
| Nearest City | House Springs |
| River/Stream | Heads Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.33384, -90.52103 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Height | 34 ft |
| Year Completed | 1960 (66 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 291 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 291 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 248 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 16 acres |
| Drainage Area | 190 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Claude Cole |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 11/29/1979 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO30430 |
| Federal ID | MO30430 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |