Lower Snake Draw (4th Enl.)

About Lower Snake Draw (4th Enl.)

The primary purpose of Lower Snake Draw (4th Enl.) 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 Genesis Alkali (private). It impounds the Snake Draw near Green River.

The dam stands 85 feet tall and stretches 12,672 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,504 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 38,938 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 square miles. Completed in 1998, the structure is 28 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. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 05/24/2021.

At 85 feet, this dam is taller than 97% of all dams in the United States.

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