Mark Twain Lake and Clarence Cannon Dam are federal water on the Salt River

Mark Twain Lake sits on the Salt River and was created by Clarence Cannon Dam, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project managed by the Corps’ St. Louis District. The reservoir spreads across Ralls and neighboring counties and is the area’s central outdoor draw, supporting boating, fishing, camping, and shoreline recreation. Because it is a federal Corps lake, what you can build, alter, or do along the shoreline is governed by Corps shoreline-management rules and permits, not simply by county zoning, which often surprises owners of nearby property. The Corps also operates the dam for flood control and water supply, so lake levels rise and fall with management decisions and weather. Anyone buying near the lake or planning a dock, path, or other shoreline use should check the Corps’ St. Louis District for current rules and permit requirements before assuming.