Old Wolf Dam
Old Wolf Dam is an earth dam located in Washington County, Missouri, built in 1979. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Old Wolf Dam
The primary purpose of Old Wolf 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 private-owned. It impounds the Tr Cadet Creek near Tiff.
The dam stands 48 feet tall and stretches 4,900 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 8 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 182 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1979, the structure is 47 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 04/19/2023.
At 48 feet, this dam is taller than 92% of dams nationwide.
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 | Tiff |
| River/Stream | Tr Cadet Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.99309, -90.69011 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 48 ft |
| Dam Height | 48 ft |
| Dam Length | 4,900 ft |
| Year Completed | 1979 (47 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 182 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 182 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 33 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 8 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,389 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Tailings |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/19/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MO31118 |
| Federal ID | MO31118 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |