Old Viburnum Tailings Dam #1
Old Viburnum Tailings Dam #1 is an other dam located in Iron County, Missouri, built in 1968. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Old Viburnum Tailings Dam #1
The primary purpose of Old Viburnum Tailings Dam #1 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 private-owned. It impounds the Courtois Creek near Viburnum.
The dam stands 115 feet tall and stretches 1,140 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 93 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,600 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1968, 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 04/14/2022.
At 115 feet, this dam is taller than 98% 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 | Iron |
| Nearest City | Viburnum |
| River/Stream | Courtois Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.73289, -91.09086 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Other |
| NID Height | 115 ft |
| Dam Height | 115 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,140 ft |
| Year Completed | 1968 (58 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,600 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,600 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,565 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 93 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Tailings |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/14/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO30342 |
| Federal ID | MO30342 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |