Itafos Tailings Pond #4 dam
Itafos Tailings Pond #4
Itafos Tailings Pond #4, previously known as Agrium/Conda Tailings Pond #4, is a private-owned facility located in Soda Springs, Idaho. This tailings pond is regulated by the Idaho Department of Water Resources and is designed to hold tailings from mining operations. Built in 1985, the pond stands at a height of 71 feet with a hydraulic height of 62.4 feet, covering a surface area of 260 acres with a storage capacity of 12,168 acre-feet.
Despite its significant hazard potential, Itafos Tailings Pond #4 has been assessed to be in satisfactory condition as of November 2020, with regular inspections and enforcement by the state regulatory agency. The pond lacks a spillway but is equipped with outlet gates. The risk assessment for this facility is classified as high, with a risk level of 2. Although the dam has not been modified over the years, it meets the state's permitting, inspection, and enforcement requirements, ensuring the safety of the surrounding community and environment. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Itafos Tailings Pond #4 serves as a crucial part of the mining infrastructure in Idaho, highlighting the delicate balance between resource extraction and environmental protection in the region.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Itafos Tailings Pond #4 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Blackfoot River Ab Reservoir Nr Henry Id | 62 cfs | → |
| Grays Lk Div To Blackfoot R Basin Nr Wayan Id | 5 cfs | → |
| Grays Lake Outlet Nr Herman Id | 0 cfs | → |
| Bear River At Pescadero | 894 cfs | → |
| Crow C Nr Fairview Wyo | 53 cfs | → |
| Portneuf River At Topaz Id | 201 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Itafos Tailings Pond #4.
Campgrounds
- Caribou County Park
- Blackfoot Reservoir Campground
- Blackfoot Reservoir
- Mill Canyon Campground
- Mill Canyon
- Gravel Creek
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Black Canyon - Highway 34 To Grace Powerhouse
- Inlet To Marsh On Spring Creek To Outlet Of Marsh On Spring Creek
- Blackfoot Wolverine Canyon Run
- Periodic Spring To Upper Dam
- Mainstem West Of Palisades Reservoir Including North Fork And Deadman Creek To Palisades Reservoir
- Source To Periodic Spring
Track Itafos Tailings Pond #4 in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Itafos Tailings Pond #4
Where does the data for Itafos Tailings Pond #4 come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Significant hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Itafos Tailings Pond #4.