Upper Little Black D-8 Dam
Upper Little Black D-8 Dam is an earth dam located in Ripley County, Missouri, built in 1986. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Upper Little Black D-8 Dam
The primary purpose of Upper Little Black D-8 Dam 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 Dr. Michael Spezia (local government). It impounds the Tr Little Black River near Fairdealing.
The dam stands 38 feet tall and stretches 650 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 13 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 444 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1986, the structure is 40 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 06/02/2022.
At 38 feet, this dam is taller than 85% 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 | Ripley |
| Nearest City | Fairdealing |
| River/Stream | Tr Little Black River |
| Coordinates | 36.69998, -90.65797 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Length | 650 ft |
| Year Completed | 1986 (40 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 444 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 444 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 111 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 13 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 947 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Dr. MICHAEL SPEZIA |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/02/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO31861 |
| Federal ID | MO31861 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |