Parker Lake Dam No. 2

Parker Lake Dam No. 2 is an earth dam located in Perry County, Missouri, built in 1965. It carries a High hazard potential classification.

Hazard potentialHighFailure would probably cost lives
ConditionNot assessed
Emergency action planNot reported
Last inspection09/07/1978
Height34 ft
Built196561 years ago

Dam profile

NID height · 34 ft
34 FT TWO-STORY HOUSEMEDIAN U.S. DAM · 24 FT

34 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 Parker Lake Dam No. 2

The primary purpose of Parker Lake Dam No. 2 is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Mrs F.m. Parker (private). It impounds the Jordan Branch Saline Creek near Silver Lake.

The dam stands 34 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 50 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 909 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 588 square miles. Completed in 1965, 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 09/07/1978. That was 48 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

StateMissouri
CountyPerry
Nearest CitySilver Lake
River/StreamJordan Branch Saline Creek
Coordinates37.69252, -90.06604

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height34 ft
Dam Height34 ft
Year Completed1965 (61 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage909 acre-ft
Max Storage909 acre-ft
Normal Storage800 acre-ft
Surface Area50 acres
Drainage Area588 sq mi

Ownership & Safety

PurposeRecreation
OwnerMrs F.m. Parker
Owner TypePrivate
Hazard ClassificationHigh
Condition AssessmentNot assessed
Last Inspection09/07/1978
Emergency Action PlanNot Required

Identifiers

NID IDMO30809
Federal IDMO30809
More InfoState Dam Safety Program