Shepard Mountain Dam
Shepard Mountain Dam is a gravity dam located in Iron County, Missouri, built in 1955. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Shepard Mountain Dam
The primary purpose of Shepard Mountain Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by City Of Ironton (local government). It impounds the Tr-stouts Creek near Arcadia.
The dam stands 33 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 21 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 371 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4,525 square miles. Completed in 1955, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. The most recent inspection on record was 04/30/1979. That was 46 years ago — unusually long for a high-hazard dam, which typically requires more frequent inspections.
At 33 feet, this dam is taller than 78% of dams nationwide.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Missouri dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Missouri |
| County | Iron |
| Nearest City | Arcadia |
| River/Stream | Tr-stouts Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.59139, -90.65781 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Height | 33 ft |
| Year Completed | 1955 (71 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 371 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 371 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 168 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 21 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4,525 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | CITY OF IRONTON |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 04/30/1979 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO30324 |
| Federal ID | MO30324 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |