West Peak Quarry Dam #1
West Peak Quarry Dam #1 is an earth dam located in Iron County, Missouri, built in 2001. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About West Peak Quarry Dam #1
The primary purpose of West Peak Quarry Dam #1 is tailings. Tailings dams contain waste material from mining operations — typically a slurry of finely ground rock left over after valuable minerals have been extracted. These structures require ongoing monitoring because tailings can contain heavy metals and other contaminants. The dam is owned by Specialty Granules, Llc (private). It impounds the Trib. Big Creek near Annapolis.
The dam stands 90 feet tall and stretches 500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 25 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 2001, the structure is relatively new.
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 09/07/2022.
At 90 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 | Annapolis |
| River/Stream | Trib. Big Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.35317, -90.70685 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 90 ft |
| Dam Height | 90 ft |
| Dam Length | 500 ft |
| Year Completed | 2001 (25 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,470 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 25 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 10 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Tailings |
| Owner | SPECIALTY GRANULES, LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/07/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO32051 |
| Federal ID | MO32051 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |