Taum Sauk Ps Lower is a gravity dam located in Reynolds County, Missouri, built in 1963. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 60 ft60 ft tall and 390 ft long, taller than 95% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Taum Sauk Ps Lower
The primary purpose of Taum Sauk Ps Lower is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Union Electric Company (public utility). It impounds the East Fork Black River near Lesterville.
The dam stands 60 feet tall and stretches 390 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 400 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 6,350 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 88 square miles. Completed in 1963, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 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 05/18/2022.
At 60 feet, this dam is taller than 95% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Reynolds |
| Nearest City | Lesterville |
| River/Stream | East Fork Black River |
| Coordinates | 37.48330, -90.83330 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 60 ft |
| Dam Height | 60 ft |
| Dam Length | 390 ft |
| Year Completed | 1963 (63 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 6,350 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 6,350 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 6,350 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 400 acres |
| Drainage Area | 88 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 130,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Union Electric Company |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/18/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO30041 |
| Federal ID | MO30041 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |