Fmcp Cooling Pond Cell A

About Fmcp Cooling Pond Cell A

The primary purpose of Fmcp Cooling Pond Cell A 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 The Mosaic Company (private). It impounds the Mccullough Creek near Fort Meade.

The dam stands 145 feet tall and stretches 7,613 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 80 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 6,400 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 13 square miles. Completed in 1978, the structure is 48 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/07/2005. That was over 20 years ago.

At 145 feet, this dam is taller than 99% of all dams in the United States.

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