The inspection came after a dam failed last week on Renns Lake in southern Cole County last week.

The 30-foot dam failed after the area suffered a heavy rain fall throughout the week. The lake, which is located right next to Hwy. 54, spilled onto the road. The water caused unsafe driving conditions.

County Commissioner Marc Ellinger said his office will conduct a survey throughout the week to see the condition of the dams. He said his staff will take photos and assess almost 40 of the county's private dams. Ellinger then plans to review the results at a meeting on Monday. He said the state regulations cause problems on the local or private level. "If dams are under 35 feet, they are essentially unregulated. It's those little ones that are so common that can cause significant problems," he said.

Robert Clay is the chief engineer on the Dam and Reservoir Safety Council. He said the council creates the rules and issues permits for Missouri dams and reservoirs. However, Clay said the agency has no control over who inspects the dams. He also said that in 2007, a bill before the state legislature aimed to lower the size requirement for dams from 35 to 25 feet. Clay added that if this were lowered, more dams would be inspected. But the staff of 4 engineers is already stretched inspecting 670 dams.

According to the Army Corps of Engineers, 73% of the more than five thousand Missouri dams are privately owned. And of the state's dams, 657 have been found to have a high hazard potential. Ellinger said the county's Public Works Director is meeting with engineers to develop a plan in the case that the investigation reveals unsafe dams.