Autumn Lake Dam

Autumn Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Jefferson County, Missouri, built in 1962. It carries a High hazard potential classification.

Hazard potentialHighFailure would probably cost lives
ConditionNot assessed
Emergency action planNot reported
Last inspection09/08/1978
Height32 ft
Built196264 years ago

Dam profile

NID height · 32 ft
32 FT TWO-STORY HOUSEMEDIAN U.S. DAM · 24 FT

32 ft tall, taller than 74% 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 Autumn Lake Dam

The primary purpose of Autumn Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Autumn Lake Devl. Co. (private). It impounds the Tributary to Rock Creek near Imperial.

The dam stands 32 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 7 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 120 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 346 square miles. Completed in 1962, 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 09/08/1978. That was 48 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.

Location

StateMissouri
CountyJefferson
Nearest CityImperial
River/StreamTributary to Rock Creek
Coordinates38.39620, -90.45650

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height32 ft
Dam Height32 ft
Year Completed1962 (64 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage120 acre-ft
Max Storage120 acre-ft
Normal Storage81 acre-ft
Surface Area7 acres
Drainage Area346 sq mi

Ownership & Safety

PurposeRecreation
OwnerAutumn Lake Devl. Co.
Owner TypePrivate
Hazard ClassificationHigh
Condition AssessmentNot assessed
Last Inspection09/08/1978
Emergency Action PlanNot Required

Identifiers

NID IDMO30446
Federal IDMO30446
More InfoState Dam Safety Program