Sun Mine Dam
Sun Mine Dam is an other dam located in Washington County, Missouri, built in 1973. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Sun Mine Dam
The primary purpose of Sun Mine 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 Tim Smith (private). It impounds the Maddin Creek near Potosi.
The dam stands 73 feet tall and stretches 3,300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 80 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,100 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1973, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/18/2020.
At 73 feet, this dam is taller than 97% 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 | Washington |
| Nearest City | Potosi |
| River/Stream | Maddin Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.06051, -90.66455 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Other |
| NID Height | 73 ft |
| Dam Height | 56 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1973 (53 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,100 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,100 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 135 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 80 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 414 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Tailings |
| Owner | TIM SMITH |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 06/18/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO30710 |
| Federal ID | MO30710 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |