Elmwood Tailings Dam
Elmwood Tailings Dam is an other dam located in Smith County, Tennessee, built in 1974. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Elmwood Tailings Dam
The primary purpose of Elmwood 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 Nyrstar Gordonsville, Llc (private). It impounds the Trib-caney Fork near Carthage.
The dam stands 107 feet tall and stretches 3,600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 71 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,337 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1974, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 12/12/2024.
At 107 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | Tennessee |
| County | Smith |
| Nearest City | Carthage |
| River/Stream | Trib-caney Fork |
| Coordinates | 36.21833, -85.91083 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Other |
| NID Height | 107 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1974 (52 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,337 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,337 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,969 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 71 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Tailings |
| Owner | Nyrstar Gordonsville, Llc |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 12/12/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TN15902 |
| Federal ID | TN15902 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |