Buick Tailings Dam dam
Buick Tailings Dam
The Buick Tailings Dam, also known as the Buick Mine Tailings Dam, is a privately owned structure in Reynolds County, Missouri. It was completed in 1981 and is primarily used for the disposal of tailings. The dam is an earth dam with a buttress core, standing at a height of 147 feet and a length of 1490 feet. It has a storage capacity of 5400 acre-feet and is located on Strother Creek in the city of Oates.
The dam is regulated by the Dam and Reservoir Safety Program in Missouri and is subject to state inspections and enforcement. It is classified as having a high hazard potential but is currently in satisfactory condition. The spillway type is uncontrolled, with a width of 5 feet, and the dam has a moderate risk assessment rating. Although there are no outlet gates, the dam has a drainage area of 2400 acres and a maximum discharge capacity of 270 cubic feet per second.
Overall, the Buick Tailings Dam is a significant structure for water resource and climate enthusiasts to study, given its unique design, purpose, and regulatory oversight. Its location in Reynolds County, Missouri, along with its storage capacity and risk assessment rating, make it an important point of interest for those interested in the management and safety of dams in the region.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Buick Tailings Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| East Fork Black River Nr Lesterville | 9 cfs | → |
| East Fork Black River At Lesterville | 44 cfs | → |
| Black River Near Annapolis | 303 cfs | → |
| Logan Creek At Ellington | 6 cfs | → |
| Meramec River At Cook Station | 50 cfs | → |
| Big River At Irondale | 68 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Buick Tailings Dam.
Boat launches
- Enough Boat Launch And Trailhead
- Council Bluff Lake Trail Washington County
- Bismarch Lake Road St. Francois County
- Ozark Trail - Marble Creek Section Iron County
- Shannon County
- State Highway B Shannon County
Campgrounds
- Ozark Trail Gunstock Hollow
- Sutton Bluff
- Sutton Bluff Recreation Area
- Panther Branch
- Council Bluff Recreation Area
- Council Bluff - Wild Boar Ridge
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- State Highway 49 Bridge Near Dillard, Missouri To Forest Boundary In Sections 13/24, T38n, R3w
- Confluence With Alley Spring (Branch) To Confluence With Current River (Does Not Include River Segment In Gap Between Parkland Units)
- Forest Boundary At North Section Line Of Sec 4, T33n, R5e To Forest Boundary At South Section Line Of Sec 35, T32n, R5e
- The Most Upstream Portion Of Ozark National Scenic Riverways To The Most Downstream Portion Of Ozark National Scenic Riverways
- Markam Spring Recreation Area To Nf Boundary
- Western Edge Of Ozark National Scenic Riverways To Confluence With Alley Spring (Branch)
Track Buick Tailings Dam in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Buick Tailings Dam
Where does the data for Buick Tailings Dam come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Buick Tailings Dam.