The Taum Sauk Hydroelectric Power Station in Missouri has an unusual way of storing energy. Instead of keeping fuel on site, it uses two reservoirs at different elevations. When electricity demand is low, pumps move water uphill to a reservoir on Proffit Mountain. Later, the water flows back down through turbines to generate electricity.
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| The Taum Sauk Hydroelectric Power Station in Missouri uses pumped-storage technology to store energy by moving water to an elevated reservoir for later electricity generation. |
Located on Proffit Mountain in the Ozarks, the Taum Sauk plant is a pumped-storage hydroelectric project operated by Ameren Missouri. It has a remarkable engineering story, but its history also includes a major disaster. In December 2005, the upper reservoir's embankment failed, releasing a massive volume of water down the mountainside. The incident transformed the site into an important case study in dam safety. FERC's official project records document the plant's design, operation, and history.
What Is the Taum Sauk Hydroelectric Power Station?
Completed in 1963, Taum Sauk was designed as a pumped-storage power station. Unlike a conventional hydroelectric dam that relies primarily on the natural flow of a river, a pumped-storage plant moves water between two reservoirs at different elevations.
The upper reservoir sits on Proffit Mountain, while the lower reservoir is associated with the East Fork of the Black River. The facility has a generating capacity of approximately 442.5 megawatts, according to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Its location high above the surrounding landscape makes the upper reservoir an especially distinctive part of the system. Rather than being a natural mountain lake, it is an engineered storage basin built to support electricity generation.
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| The Taum Sauk power plant in Missouri stores energy by pumping water to an elevated reservoir and generates electricity when the water flows back down through turbines. |
How Does the Taum Sauk Power Plant Work?
Pumping Water Uphill
When electricity demand is low, the plant uses electricity to pump water from the lower reservoir into the upper reservoir. This stores energy in the form of elevated water.
Generating Electricity
When demand rises, water flows back downhill through reversible pump-turbines. The moving water spins the machinery, which generates electricity for the power grid.
The cycle cannot produce more energy than it consumes; some energy is lost during pumping and generation. Its value comes from storing energy when demand is lower and releasing it when electricity is needed. The U.S. Geological Survey's technical report explains how the plant uses the elevation difference between its reservoirs to generate power.
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| The elevated reservoir at Taum Sauk stores water for electricity generation, forming a key part of the plant’s pumped-storage system. |
The Taum Sauk Reservoir Failure of 2005
What Happened on December 14, 2005?
At approximately 5:15 a.m. on December 14, 2005, the upper reservoir embankment failed during the final pumping cycle. Water escaped through a breach in the reservoir's rim dike and swept down the western slope of Proffit Mountain. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's incident record states that approximately 4,300 acre-feet of water were released and that the reservoir drained in about half an hour.
The flood travelled through Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park and the East Fork Black River before reaching the lower reservoir. The sudden release carried rock, soil, and vegetation into the surrounding landscape, causing extensive damage. The event was not simply a large spill from an ordinary dam. It involved the failure of the elevated reservoir's embankment, which allowed stored water to escape rapidly down the mountain.
Why Was the Failure So Significant?
The disaster prompted extensive engineering investigations into the reservoir's design, operating procedures, and protective systems. FERC assembled an independent panel to investigate the cause and review reconstruction plans. The independent panel's report documents the technical investigation into the breach. The findings also informed wider reviews of safety practices at pumped-storage facilities.
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| On December 14, 2005, the upper reservoir at Taum Sauk failed, releasing a large volume of water down the mountainside and prompting a major investigation into dam safety. |
Rebuilding the Taum Sauk Upper Reservoir
Reconstruction required more than repairing a damaged wall. Engineers had to examine the original failure, reconsider the reservoir's design and introduce measures intended to reduce the risk of another incident. FERC records document the authorisation for reconstruction in 2007 and the subsequent regulatory review. The project remains an important example of how major infrastructure failures can lead to changes in engineering practice and safety oversight. For readers interested in unusual industrial structures, RiteBook also explores the history of Crystal Mill in Colorado, a historic water-powered compressor station built to support mining operations.
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| The upper reservoir at Taum Sauk holds water at a higher elevation, allowing the facility to generate electricity when water flows back through its turbines. |
Why Pumped-Storage Hydropower Matters
Pumped-storage plants help balance electricity supply and demand. They can store energy during periods of lower demand and release it when the grid needs additional power. They are particularly useful because electricity must be generated and delivered in response to changing demand.
Taum Sauk illustrates both the usefulness and the risks of this technology. The elevation difference between its reservoirs makes energy storage possible, but the upper reservoir must also be designed, monitored and operated to demanding safety standards.
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| Following the 2005 reservoir failure, the upper reservoir at Taum Sauk was rebuilt as part of efforts to restore the pumped-storage hydroelectric facility and improve dam safety. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Taum Sauk Hydroelectric Power Station?
It is in Reynolds County, southeastern Missouri, on Proffit Mountain near the East Fork of the Black River.
When was the Taum Sauk power station built?
The project was completed in 1963, according to FERC.
How does the Taum Sauk power plant generate electricity?
It releases water from an upper reservoir through reversible pump-turbines to generate electricity, then pumps water back uphill when demand is lower.
What happened at Taum Sauk in 2005?
On December 14, 2005, the upper reservoir's embankment failed, releasing approximately 4,300 acre-feet of water in about half an hour.
How much electricity can Taum Sauk generate?
FERC lists the project's generating capacity as approximately 442.5 megawatts.
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| Taum Sauk generates electricity when water stored in its upper reservoir flows downhill through turbines, helping meet periods of higher electricity demand. |
Conclusion
The Taum Sauk Hydroelectric Power Station has an unusual role: it uses water to store energy for later use. Its elevated reservoir and reversible turbines show how pumped-storage technology can help meet changing electricity demand. But the reservoir failure in 2005 revealed the serious consequences that can follow when critical engineering safeguards fail. Today, Taum Sauk’s story is about more than generating electricity. It shows the need to store energy and the cost of operating large infrastructure. Careful design, regular monitoring, and strong safety measures are essential to keeping such facilities reliable.
References & Sources
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