Council Bluff Dam
Council Bluff Dam is an earth dam located in Iron County, Missouri, built in 1981. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Council Bluff Dam
The primary purpose of Council Bluff Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Usda Fs (federal). It impounds the Big River near Black.
The dam stands 112 feet tall and stretches 485 feet across. Completed in 1981, the structure is 45 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 04/25/2021.
At 112 feet, this dam is taller than 98% 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 | Iron |
| Nearest City | Black |
| River/Stream | Big River |
| Coordinates | 37.72967, -90.90677 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 112 ft |
| Dam Height | 112 ft |
| Dam Length | 485 ft |
| Year Completed | 1981 (45 years old) |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | USDA FS |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/25/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO31755 |
| Federal ID | MO31755 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |