Pioneer Clarification dam
Pioneer Clarification
The Pioneer Clarification dam, located in St. Louis County, Minnesota, plays a crucial role in managing tailings for the local residents. Built in 1961, this earth dam stands at a height of 25 feet and stretches 1000 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 239 acre-feet, it serves the Lonsdorf Creek watershed with a normal storage of 117 acre-feet and a drainage area of 0.6 square miles.
Managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by state agencies to ensure its safety and functionality. Despite being rated as having a significant hazard potential, the condition assessment of the dam is currently listed as 'Not Rated'. The last inspection of the dam was conducted in August 2019, with a scheduled inspection frequency of every 4 years.
With its location in a picturesque natural setting and its vital role in water resource management, the Pioneer Clarification dam serves as a key infrastructure for safeguarding the environment and ensuring the well-being of the local community. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the proper maintenance and monitoring of dams like Pioneer Clarification are essential in adapting to the challenges of a changing climate and protecting the surrounding ecosystems.
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 Pioneer Clarification -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Kawishiwi R Abv White Iron Lake Nr Ely | 2,260 cfs | → |
| South Kawishiwi River Near Ely | 1,580 cfs | → |
| Kawishiwi River Near Ely | 1,090 cfs | → |
| Basswood River Near Winton | 7,020 cfs | → |
| Vermilion River Nr Crane Lake | 1,150 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pioneer Clarification.
Boat launches
- Shagawa Road West Ely
- Saint Louis County
- Fernberg Road Lake County
- Echo Trail Saint Louis County
- North Arm Road Saint Louis County
- Fr 183 Lake County
Campgrounds
- West Twin Lake
- Fenske Lake Campground
- Fenske Lake
- Ymca Camp Dunord
- Bear Island Lake
- South Kawishiwi River
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Wolf Bay Of Lake Vermilion To Section 26, T65n, R17w
- Section 26, T65n, R17w To Section 31, T66n, R17w
- Section 31, T66n, R17w To Crane Lake
- Bwcaw Boundary To Confluence With Plouff Creek
- North Temperance Lake In T63n, R4w To Bwcaw Boundary In T62n, R4w
- Confluence With Plouff Creek To Lake Superior In T59n, R4w
Track Pioneer Clarification 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 Pioneer Clarification
Where does the data for Pioneer Clarification 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 Pioneer Clarification.