Rainbow Lake Dam
Rainbow Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Franklin County, Missouri, built in 1954. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Rainbow Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Rainbow Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Catherine Straatmann (private). It impounds the Trib-pin Oak Creek near Robertsville.
The dam stands 27 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 8 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 116 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 160 square miles. Completed in 1954, 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 08/28/1980. That was 45 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
| State | Missouri |
| County | Franklin |
| Nearest City | Robertsville |
| River/Stream | Trib-pin Oak Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.46317, -90.91380 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Height | 27 ft |
| Year Completed | 1954 (72 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 116 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 116 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 53 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 8 acres |
| Drainage Area | 160 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | CATHERINE STRAATMANN |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 08/28/1980 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO30544 |
| Federal ID | MO30544 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |