Von Der Ahe

Von Der Ahe is an earth dam located in Franklin County, Missouri, built in 1977. It carries a High hazard potential classification.

Hazard potentialHighFailure would probably cost lives
ConditionNot assessed
Emergency action planNot reported
Last inspection05/22/1980
Height34 ft
Built197749 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 Von Der Ahe

The primary purpose of Von Der Ahe is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Russell Von Der Ahe (private). It impounds the Tr Caluey Creek near Pacific.

The dam stands 34 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 20 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 364 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 292 square miles. Completed in 1977, the structure is 49 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 05/22/1980. That was 46 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
CountyFranklin
Nearest CityPacific
River/StreamTr Caluey Creek
Coordinates38.36102, -90.75223

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height34 ft
Dam Height34 ft
Year Completed1977 (49 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage364 acre-ft
Max Storage364 acre-ft
Normal Storage187 acre-ft
Surface Area20 acres
Drainage Area292 sq mi

Ownership & Safety

PurposeRecreation
OwnerRussell Von Der Ahe
Owner TypePrivate
Hazard ClassificationHigh
Condition AssessmentNot assessed
Last Inspection05/22/1980
Emergency Action PlanNot Required

Identifiers

NID IDMO31077
Federal IDMO31077
More InfoState Dam Safety Program