Old Mines Tailings Dam dam
Old Mines Tailings Dam
The Old Mines Tailings Dam, located in Racola, Missouri, is a private structure designed to contain tailings from mining operations. Built in 1980, this dam stands at a height of 61 feet and has a length of 560 feet, with a storage capacity of 286 acre-feet. It is regulated by the state's Dam and Reservoir Safety Program and undergoes regular inspections, with the latest assessment in March 2017 rating its condition as unsatisfactory and its hazard potential as high.
Mud Town Creek is the river or stream closest to the dam, with a drainage area of 327 square miles. In case of emergencies, the dam does not have outlet gates for controlled release, and its spillway is uncontrolled with a width of 40 feet. While it has a moderate risk assessment rating, there are no specific risk management measures listed, highlighting the importance of continued monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and integrity of this structure. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Old Mines Tailings Dam serves as a noteworthy case study in the management of tailings and the potential risks associated with such structures in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Old Mines Tailings Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big River Near Richwoods | 346 cfs | → |
| Big River At Irondale | 44 cfs | → |
| Big River Below Desloge | 80 cfs | → |
| Meramec River Near Sullivan | 574 cfs | → |
| Big River At Byrnesville | 361 cfs | → |
| Meramec River At Pacific | 1,300 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Old Mines Tailings Dam.
Boat launches
- Bismarch Lake Road St. Francois County
- Choctaw Drive St. Francois County
- Council Bluff Lake Trail Washington County
- Meramec State Park Franklin County
- Enough Boat Launch And Trailhead
- Highway W Franklin County
Campgrounds
- Washington State Park
- St. Francois State Park
- Brazil Creek Trailhead
- St. Joe State Park
- Berryman
- Berryman Campground
Fishing spots
Track Old Mines 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 Old Mines Tailings Dam
Where does the data for Old Mines 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 Old Mines Tailings Dam.