Sutter Lake Dam

Sutter Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Crawford County, Missouri, built in 1974. It carries a High hazard potential classification.

Hazard potentialHighFailure would probably cost lives
ConditionNot assessed
Emergency action planNot reported
Last inspectionNot reported
Height32 ft
Built197452 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 Sutter Lake Dam

The primary purpose of Sutter Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Charlie Sutter (private). It impounds the Tr-pleasant Valley Creek near Oak Hill.

The dam stands 32 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 9 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 154 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 130 square miles. Completed in 1974, 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.

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
CountyCrawford
Nearest CityOak Hill
River/StreamTr-pleasant Valley Creek
Coordinates38.10186, -91.42715

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height32 ft
Dam Height32 ft
Year Completed1974 (52 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage154 acre-ft
Max Storage154 acre-ft
Normal Storage84 acre-ft
Surface Area9 acres
Drainage Area130 sq mi

Ownership & Safety

PurposeRecreation
OwnerCharlie Sutter
Owner TypePrivate
Hazard ClassificationHigh
Condition AssessmentNot assessed
Emergency Action PlanNot Required

Identifiers

NID IDMO31301
Federal IDMO31301
More InfoState Dam Safety Program