Upper Little Black D-4 Dam is an earth dam located in Ripley County, Missouri, built in 1986. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 40 ft40 ft tall and 775 ft long, taller than 86% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Upper Little Black D-4 Dam
The primary purpose of Upper Little Black D-4 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 local government-owned. It impounds the King Bee Spring near Flatwoods.
The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 775 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 20 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 194 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1986, the structure is 40 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 03/04/2022.
At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 86% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Missouri |
| County | Ripley |
| Nearest City | Flatwoods |
| River/Stream | King Bee Spring |
| Coordinates | 36.71353, -90.66300 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Length | 775 ft |
| Year Completed | 1986 (40 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 194 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 194 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 194 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 20 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,589 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 03/04/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO31862 |
| Federal ID | MO31862 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |