Buick Tailings Dam
Buick Tailings Dam is an earth dam located in Reynolds County, Missouri, built in 1981. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Buick Tailings Dam
The primary purpose of Buick Tailings Dam 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 Doe Run Company (private). It impounds the Strother Creek near Oates.
The dam stands 147 feet tall and stretches 1,490 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 141 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 5,400 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1981, the structure is 45 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 05/19/2022.
At 147 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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 | Reynolds |
| Nearest City | Oates |
| River/Stream | Strother Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.58353, -91.08303 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 147 ft |
| Dam Height | 147 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,490 ft |
| Year Completed | 1981 (45 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 5,400 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 5,400 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 4,700 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 141 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 270 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Tailings |
| Owner | DOE RUN COMPANY |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/19/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO30162 |
| Federal ID | MO30162 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |