Upper Little Black A-2 is an earth dam located in Ripley County, Missouri, built in 1992. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 60 ft60 ft tall and 1,300 ft long, taller than 95% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Upper Little Black A-2
The primary purpose of Upper Little Black A-2 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 Beaver Dam Creek near Grandin.
The dam stands 60 feet tall and stretches 1,300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 70 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 5,400 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 13 square miles. Completed in 1992, the structure is 34 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 03/13/2023.
At 60 feet, this dam is taller than 95% 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 | Grandin |
| River/Stream | Beaver Dam Creek |
| Coordinates | 36.76779, -90.67552 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 60 ft |
| Dam Height | 60 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1992 (34 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 5,400 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 5,400 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 713 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 70 acres |
| Drainage Area | 13 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 16,475 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 03/13/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO31938 |
| Federal ID | MO31938 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |