Lake of the Ozarks / Osage Region
Pomme de Terre Dam and the Corps shape the lake
Pomme de Terre Lake exists because the Pomme de Terre River was dammed by the Corps of Engineers, and how the dam is operated shapes lake levels and recreation for the county.
Pomme de Terre Lake was made by putting a dam across the Pomme de Terre River. That dam is called Pomme de Terre Dam. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built and runs it. The Corps is the part of the Army that handles big water projects. The local office in charge is the Kansas City District.
Corps lakes like this one are usually run for flood control, which means holding back water to protect people downstream. They are also used for fun, like fishing and boating. Because of this, the lake does not stay at one level. It rises and falls with rain and with how the Corps moves water.
If you live in or visit Hickory County, this matters to you. Water levels, water let out of the dam, and the shoreline all depend on how the Corps runs the dam. Below the dam, the river keeps flowing toward the Truman Lake area.
Want to know the exact rules or today’s lake level? Check with the Corps first.
Where to see it
- Pomme de Terre Lake
Use USACE for dam, lake, water-level, and recreation information.
References
More from Hickory County: browse every local note for the county.
Last checked against the sources above: June 15, 2026.