Henke Lake Dam
Henke Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Callaway County, Missouri, built in 1970. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Henke Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Henke Lake Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Elmer Henke (private). It impounds the Prairie Fork near Mokane.
The dam stands 33 feet tall and stretches 320 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 25 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 412 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4,200 square miles. Completed in 1970, 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 02/13/1990. That was 36 years ago — unusually long for a high-hazard dam, which typically requires more frequent inspections.
At 33 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
| State | Missouri |
| County | Callaway |
| Nearest City | Mokane |
| River/Stream | Prairie Fork |
| Coordinates | 38.74194, -91.95167 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Length | 320 ft |
| Year Completed | 1970 (56 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 412 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 412 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 258 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 25 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4,200 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,645 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | ELMER HENKE |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 02/13/1990 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO30915 |
| Federal ID | MO30915 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |