Desoto Pit & Plant B Dam
Desoto Pit & Plant B Dam is an other dam located in Washington County, Missouri, built in 1980. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Desoto Pit & Plant B Dam
The primary purpose of Desoto Pit & Plant B 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 private-owned. It impounds the Ditch Creek near Richwoods.
The dam stands 54 feet tall and stretches 1,360 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 12 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 248 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1980, the structure is 46 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 11/29/2021.
At 54 feet, this dam is taller than 94% of dams nationwide.
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 | Washington |
| Nearest City | Richwoods |
| River/Stream | Ditch Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.17494, -90.80512 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Other |
| NID Height | 54 ft |
| Dam Height | 54 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,360 ft |
| Year Completed | 1980 (46 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 248 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 248 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 196 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 12 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Tailings |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/29/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO30469 |
| Federal ID | MO30469 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |