Trace Creek Dam is an earth dam located in Madison County, Missouri, built in 2001. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 40 ft40 ft tall and 590 ft long, taller than 86% 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 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 86% 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 | Madison |
| River/Stream | Trace Crk. (trib. Castor Riv |
| Coordinates | 37.31860, -90.16050 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Length | 590 ft |
| Year Completed | 2001 (25 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,080 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,080 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 900 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 60 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2,950 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Joe Vitale |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 10/24/2003 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO40114 |
| Federal ID | MO40114 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |