Trace Creek Dam

About Trace Creek Dam

The primary purpose of Trace Creek Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Joe Vitale (private). It impounds the Trace Crk. (trib. Castor Riv.

The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 590 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 60 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,080 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2,950 square miles. Completed in 2001, the structure is relatively new.

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 10/24/2003. That was 22 years ago — unusually long for a high-hazard dam, which typically requires more frequent inspections.

At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 87% 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.

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