Rufe Wysong Dam And Navigation Lock
Rufe Wysong Dam And Navigation Lock is an earth dam located in Sumter County, Florida, built in 1964. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
About Rufe Wysong Dam And Navigation Lock
The primary purpose of Rufe Wysong Dam And Navigation Lock 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 Swfwmd (local government). It impounds the Withlacoochee River near Rutland.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 360 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 87 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 1,300 acre-feet. Completed in 1964, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. The most recent inspection on record was 09/05/2024.
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Location
| State | Florida |
| County | Sumter |
| Nearest City | Rutland |
| River/Stream | Withlacoochee River |
| Coordinates | 28.82000, -82.18000 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 360 ft |
| Year Completed | 1964 (62 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,300 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,300 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 800 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 87 acres |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Tailings |
| Owner | SWFWMD |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 09/05/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | FL00431 |
| Federal ID | FL00431 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |