Smithville Lake

{{short description|Lake in Missouri, USA}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox body of water

| name = Smithville Lake

| image = Smithville-lake1.jpg

| caption = Lower portion of the lake from the east. The dam is the flat area on the upper left

| image_bathymetry =

| caption_bathymetry =

| location = Clay / Clinton counties, Missouri, United States

| coords = {{coord|39.42|N|94.53|W|format=dms|type:waterbody_region:US-MO|display=inline,title}}

| type = reservoir

| inflow = Little Platte branch of the Platte River

| outflow = Little Platte branch of the Platte River

| catchment =

| basin_countries = United States

| date-flooded = {{Start date|1979}}

| length =

| width =

| area = {{convert|7190|acre|km2|abbr=on}}

| depth =

| max-depth =

| volume = {{convert|246,500|acre feet|abbr=on}}

| residence_time =

| shore = {{convert|175|mi|km|0}}

| elevation = {{convert|243|m|order=flip|abbr=on}}{{gnis|735989}}

| islands =

| cities =

| pushpin_map = Missouri#USA

| pushpin_label_position =

| pushpin_map_alt = Location of Smithville Lake in Missouri, USA.

| pushpin_map_caption =

| website =

| reference =

}}

Smithville Lake is a {{convert|7190|acre|km2|0|adj=on}} reservoir on the Little Platte branch of the Platte River in Clay County, Missouri near Smithville. It provides the water supply for Smithville, Missouri and Plattsburg, Missouri. Kansas City, Missouri has reserved a portion for its water supply.

The lake was built and is administered by the Kansas City office of the United States Army Corps of Engineers (which includes all of Missouri and Kansas, as well as small portions of Nebraska and Iowa) primarily for flood control. The lake is 10th largest of Corps lakes in the district, but third in terms of shoreline. It has {{convert|5000|acre|km2|0}} of public land and {{convert|175|mi|km|0}} of shoreline.

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 {{convert|4000|feet}} long. At its crest it is {{convert|105|feet}} high and contains a maximum capacity of {{convert|246,500|acre feet}}. It is owned and operated by the Corps of Engineers.{{Cite web |url=http://findlakes.com/northcentral_missouri_lakes_n39w93.htm |title=Sugar Creek Lake Thomas Hill Reservoir Thomas Hill Reservoir Area |access-date=2012-08-14 |archive-date=2012-09-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915023528/http://findlakes.com/northcentral_missouri_lakes_n39w93.htm |url-status=dead }}

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.