Laird Dam is an earth dam located in Macon County, Missouri, built in 1992. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 31 ft31 ft tall and 280 ft long, taller than 72% 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 Laird Dam
The primary purpose of Laird Dam is grade stabilization. Grade stabilization dams prevent erosion by reducing the slope and velocity of water flowing through a channel. They're commonly used to stop gullies from deepening and to protect downstream land and infrastructure. The dam is owned by Ralph Laird (private). It impounds the Tr-cottonwood Creek near Elmer.
The dam stands 31 feet tall and stretches 280 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 31 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 57 square miles. Completed in 1992, the structure is 34 years old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life.
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Location
| State | Missouri |
| County | Macon |
| Nearest City | Elmer |
| River/Stream | Tr-cottonwood Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.00315, -92.61599 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Length | 280 ft |
| Year Completed | 1992 (34 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 31 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 31 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 28 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1 acres |
| Drainage Area | 57 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Grade Stabilization |
| Owner | Ralph Laird |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO50552 |
| Federal ID | MO50552 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |