Coles Lake Dam
Coles Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Jefferson County, Missouri, built in 1948. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Coles Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Coles Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Trustees Of Cole Lake (private). It impounds the Tr Tiff Creek near Bonne Terre.
The dam stands 37 feet tall and stretches 1,370 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 42 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 605 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1948, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years 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. 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 10/13/2021.
At 37 feet, this dam is taller than 84% 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 | Bonne Terre |
| River/Stream | Tr Tiff Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.01882, -90.56805 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,370 ft |
| Year Completed | 1948 (78 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 605 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 605 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 445 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 42 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | TRUSTEES OF COLE LAKE |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/13/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO30440 |
| Federal ID | MO30440 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |