Dam and River Basin

Long Branch Lake was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a multipurpose project to provide flood control, water supply, recreation, fish and wildlife benefits, and downstream water quality enhancement.

The East Fork of the Little Chariton is the major source of water flowing into Long Branch Lake.

The dam is located approximately 69 stream miles north of its confluence with the Missouri River near Glasgow Missouri. Long Branch Lake is fed by a 109 square mile drainage basin north of the dam.

The dam consists of a rolled earthfill embankment with an uncontrolled spillway located 1400 feet west of the dam and an outlet works with a 6 ft arched conduit. Releases are made through a low flow gate system with an 18 inch square gate supplemented by 2 uncontrolled drop inlets that release water at elevations higher than 791.00 feet above mean sea level (msl). The dam is also equipped with a 7 ft square emergency drawdown bulkhead. The intake tower and control structure contain all the operating machinery and equipment.