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Smithville Lake

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Coordinates: 39°25′N 94°32′W / 39.42°N 94.53°W / 39.42; -94.53
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Smithville Lake
Lower portion of the lake from the east. The dam is just above the center.
Location of Smithville Lake in Missouri, USA.
Location of Smithville Lake in Missouri, USA.
Smithville Lake
Location of Smithville Lake in Missouri, USA.
Location of Smithville Lake in Missouri, USA.
Smithville Lake
LocationClay / Clinton counties, Missouri, United States
Coordinates39°25′N 94°32′W / 39.42°N 94.53°W / 39.42; -94.53
Typereservoir
Primary inflowsLittle Platte River
Primary outflowsLittle Platte River
Basin countriesUnited States
First flooded1979 (1979)
Surface area7,190 acres (29.1 km2)
Water volume246,500 acre⋅ft (304,100,000 m3)
Shore length1175 miles (282 km)
Surface elevation797 ft (243 m)[1]
WebsiteSmithville Lake USACE
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Smithville Lake is a 7,190-acre (2,910 ha) reservoir on the Little Platte branch of the Platte River in Clay County, Missouri near Smithville. It is the largest body of water in the Kansas City metropolitan area. The reservoir provides the water supply for Smithville, Missouri[2]

The lake was built and is administered by the Kansas City office of the United States Army Corps of Engineers and was built primarily for flood control. The lake is 10th largest of Corps lakes in the district, but third in terms of shoreline. It has 5,000 acres (20 km2) of public land and 175 miles (282 km) of shoreline.[3]

History

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Smithville Dam was authorized in 1965. Construction began in 1972 with the dam being completed in 1977. Impoundment began in 1979. The dam is of earthen construction and is 4,000 feet (1,200 m) long. At its crest it is 105 feet (32 m) high and contains a maximum capacity of 246,500 acre-feet (304,100,000 m3). It is owned and operated by the Corps of Engineers.[4]

Geography

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The Smithville Lake spans two counties in Missouri, with the bulk of the reservoir located in northwestern Clay County and the rest in southwestern Clinton County, Missouri.[5]

Communities

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The largest community around the Smithville Lake is the eponymous Smithville, Missouri located directly west of the reservoir. The other communities around the lake include the cities Plattsburg and Trimble and the census-desginated place of Paradise.[3] The unincorporated community of Arley is located just southeast of the reservoir's easternmost arm.[5]

Recreation

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Many recreation activities are present around the Smithville Lake including boating, fishing, golfing,[6] and hunting. Four major parks are located along the reservoir in Clay County: Camp Branch Park,[7] Crows Creek Park,[7] Little Platte Park,[8] and Smith's Fork City Park.[9] There are two state protected lands located around Smithville Lake which are both in Clinton County: Trimble Wildlife Management Area and Smithville Lake State Wildlife Area.[10]

Visitor Center

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The Jerry L. Litton Visitor Center by the dam tells the history of the area, as well as has memorabilia about the Congressman who died in a plane crash on election night after winning the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in 1976.[11]

Fishing

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The Smithville Lake is home to many species of fish; some of the most popular include bass, catfish, crappie, and walleye.[12] The Missouri Department of Conservation has identified hundreds of fish attractors around the reservoir to aid fishers.[12]

References

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  1. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Smithville Lake
  2. ^ "Water & Sewer". Smithville, Missouri. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Smithville Lake Map". United States Army Corps of Engineers. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  4. ^ "Sugar Creek Lake Thomas Hill Reservoir Thomas Hill Reservoir Area". Archived from the original on September 15, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
  5. ^ a b "Clay County Map, 2024" (PDF). MoDOT. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  6. ^ "Paradise Pointe Golf Complex". Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  7. ^ a b "Camping Reservation Guidelines at Smithville Lake". Clay County, Missouri. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  8. ^ "Beaches". Clay County, Missouri. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  9. ^ "Smith's Fork Campground". Smithville Parks and Recreation. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  10. ^ "Recreation & Outdoors". Clinton County, Missouri. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  11. ^ "Smithville Lake holds rededication ceremony for Jerry L. Litton Visitor Center". United States Army Corps of Engineers. October 17, 2023. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  12. ^ a b "Smithville Lake". Missouri Department of Conservation. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
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