Bagnell Dam

Releases, last 30 days

How the floodgates work

Most days, all the water leaving Lake of the Ozarks goes through the turbines in the Osage Energy Center, the power plant built into the north end of the dam. The dam has eight turbines and 12 floodgates.

The turbines can pass roughly 40,000 cubic feet per second at full capacity. When the lake is rising faster than that can move water out, usually after heavy rain or when the Corps of Engineers is releasing water from Truman Dam upstream, Ameren opens floodgates. With all 12 wide open the dam can pass more than 225,000 cubic feet per second. Ameren has also opened gates when some turbines were out of service, so open gates don't always mean a flood.

Flow from Truman Dam takes about six hours to reach Bagnell. For the lake itself, see today's Lake of the Ozarks level and the Truman Lake level.

Where to see it

Bagnell Dam Boulevard, the old route of U.S. 54, runs right across the top of the dam, so you can drive it. For a look from below:

• The overlook. Kiosks explain the lake and the dam, with a picture of the Osage River valley before the lake, and one of the dam's original turbines is on display.
• Fish and bird observation area. Ameren and the Missouri Department of Conservation built it along the walkway to the power plant office, on the downstream side of the dam. Take Upper Power Plant Road, about half a mile north of the dam on Business Route 54.
• Willmore Lodge. Built in 1930 as the administration building and guest lodge for the dam project, it's now a visitor center with a free museum on the dam and the lake, run by the Lake Area Chamber of Commerce. The entrance is on Business Route 54 across from Upper Power Plant Road. Hours vary by season, so call 573-964-1008 before you go.

The Bagnell Dam Strip, the lake's old-school main drag, is just off the dam on Bagnell Dam Boulevard.

Below the dam

The Osage River below the dam can rise fast when releases go up. Three warning sirens cover the first 5 river miles. Ameren tests them at noon on the first Wednesday of each month, and the test message says "this is a test." If you hear them any other time, get to higher ground. If you're swimming or in a boat near the dam and the current suddenly picks up or there's more floating debris, head for shore.

Bagnell Dam facts

Ameren also runs its Taum Sauk pumped storage plant from the control room at Bagnell Dam.

Questions

Can you drive across Bagnell Dam?

Yes. Bagnell Dam Boulevard, the old route of U.S. 54, runs across the top of the dam and connects the Bagnell Dam Strip with U.S. 54.

Are the Bagnell Dam floodgates open?

Ameren Missouri announces floodgate openings, and local news covers them. This page shows how much water is passing the dam right now from the USGS gauge just downstream. The turbines can pass roughly 40,000 cubic feet per second, so a reading well above that means the floodgates are open.

Can you tour Bagnell Dam?

Ameren points visitors to its overlook and to a fish and bird observation area on the downstream side of the dam. Willmore Lodge, the dam's 1930 administration building, is a free museum about the dam and the lake.

How tall is Bagnell Dam?

148 feet tall and 2,543 feet long. It was built between 1929 and 1931 by Union Electric, the company that is now Ameren Missouri.

What do the sirens below Bagnell Dam mean?

Three sirens cover the first 5 miles of the Osage River below the dam. Ameren tests them at noon on the first Wednesday of each month with a message that says "this is a test." Any other time, anyone on or near the river below the dam should get to higher ground right away.