Indian Creek Mine Dam - Upper
Indian Creek Mine Dam - Upper is an other dam located in Washington County, Missouri, built in 1980. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Indian Creek Mine Dam - Upper
The primary purpose of Indian Creek Mine Dam - Upper 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 St Joe Minerals Corp (private). It impounds the Goose Creek near Sullivan.
The dam stands 56 feet tall and stretches 3,850 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 10 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 791 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 102 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. The most recent inspection on record was 06/29/1989. That was 36 years ago — unusually long for a high-hazard dam, which typically requires more frequent inspections.
At 56 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 | Sullivan |
| River/Stream | Goose Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.05457, -90.92160 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Other |
| NID Height | 56 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,850 ft |
| Year Completed | 1980 (46 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 791 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 791 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 13 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 10 acres |
| Drainage Area | 102 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5,872 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Tailings |
| Owner | ST JOE MINERALS CORP |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 06/29/1989 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO31036 |
| Federal ID | MO31036 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |