Shadow Lake Dam

Shadow Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Cole County, Missouri, built in 1968. It carries a High hazard potential classification.

Hazard potentialHighFailure would probably cost lives
ConditionNot assessed
Emergency action planNot reported
Last inspectionNot reported
Height25 ft
Built196858 years ago

Dam profile

NID height · 25 ft
25 FT TWO-STORY HOUSEMEDIAN U.S. DAM · 24 FT

25 ft tall, taller than 50% 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 Shadow Lake Dam

The primary purpose of Shadow Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Fred Luelkenhoff (private). It impounds the Tr Wears Creek near Jefferson City.

The dam stands 25 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 5 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 67 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 60 square miles. Completed in 1968, 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
CountyCole
Nearest CityJefferson City
River/StreamTr Wears Creek
Coordinates38.55477, -92.23893

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height25 ft
Dam Height25 ft
Year Completed1968 (58 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage67 acre-ft
Max Storage67 acre-ft
Normal Storage35 acre-ft
Surface Area5 acres
Drainage Area60 sq mi

Ownership & Safety

PurposeRecreation
OwnerFred Luelkenhoff
Owner TypePrivate
Hazard ClassificationHigh
Condition AssessmentNot assessed
Emergency Action PlanNot Required

Identifiers

NID IDMO31766
Federal IDMO31766
More InfoState Dam Safety Program