Fourche Creek Wtrshd No. 7
Fourche Creek Wtrshd No. 7 is an earth dam located in Ripley County, Missouri, built in 1975. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Fourche Creek Wtrshd No. 7
The primary purpose of Fourche Creek Wtrshd No. 7 is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Ripley Soil/water Conser (local government). It impounds the East Fork Fourche Creek near Pocahontas Ark.
The dam stands 68 feet tall and stretches 1,600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 40 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,775 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 square miles. Completed in 1975, 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. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/09/2023.
At 68 feet, this dam is taller than 96% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Ripley |
| Nearest City | Pocahontas Ark |
| River/Stream | East Fork Fourche Creek |
| Coordinates | 36.59698, -90.93347 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 68 ft |
| Dam Height | 68 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1975 (51 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,775 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,775 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 306 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 40 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,558 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | RIPLEY SOIL/WATER CONSER |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 03/09/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO31408 |
| Federal ID | MO31408 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |