Valle Lake Dam
Valle Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Jefferson County, Missouri, built in 1955. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Valle Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Valle Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Valle Lake Prop Own Assn (private). It impounds the Fletcher Branch near Desoto.
The dam stands 39 feet tall and stretches 820 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 43 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 800 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1955, 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. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/22/2020.
At 39 feet, this dam is taller than 86% 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 | Desoto |
| River/Stream | Fletcher Branch |
| Coordinates | 38.05327, -90.51517 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 39 ft |
| Dam Height | 39 ft |
| Dam Length | 820 ft |
| Year Completed | 1955 (71 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 800 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 800 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 460 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 43 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5,920 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | VALLE LAKE PROP OWN ASSN |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/22/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO30438 |
| Federal ID | MO30438 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |