earth-fill original. In addition to better fill-detection instrumentation, it incorporates a spillway rated to handle overflow equal to the maximum capacity of both pumping units and a video system to monitor the water level. The US$490 million cost of rebuilding the reservoir was covered partially by insurance. The utility was prohibited from billing customers to recoup any of the cost. Water was pumped into the rebuilt reservoir for the first time on February 27, 2010, and engineers monitored the response of the new structure as the water level was repeatedly raised and lowered. The final approval required from the FERC for “return to normal project operations” was received on April 1, 2010. The utility met the Missouri Public Service Commission’s in-service criteria for operations on April 15, and electricity was first generated from the new structure on April 21, 2010. The new dam was recognized by the United States Society on Dams with its "Award of Excellence in the Constructed Project". On September 27, 2010, IEEE rededicated the plant as an IEEE Milestone. See also List of hydroelectric power station failures References General references Southeast Missourian (Cape Girardeau, Missouri): Taum Sauk Reservoir fails Ameren Press Releases: Media Release Detail, Media Release Detail Daily Journal (Park Hills, Missouri): Taum Sauk Dam Fails National Weather Service, St. Louis Office: Taum Sauk Dam Failure Photos from the USGS Mid-Continent Geographic Science Center Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park damage update page Ameren web pages on Taum Sauk and Johnson's Shut-ins restoration External links FERC Independent Panel of Consultants (IPOC) Report, May 25, 2006 Ameren Missouri Taum Sauk Water Management Website Energy infrastructure completed in 1963 1963 establishments in Missouri Hydroelectric power plants in Missouri Pumped-storage hydroelectric power stations in the United States Dam failures in the United States Disasters in Missouri Buildings and structures in Reynolds County, Missouri Roller-compacted concrete dams Dams in Missouri Black River (Arkansas–Missouri)