Republic Mine Tailings Pond Dam B dam
Republic Mine Tailings Pond Dam B
Republic Mine Tailings Pond Dam B, located in Republic, Michigan, is a privately owned earth dam that serves the primary purpose of storing tailings. Completed in 1960, this dam stands at a height of 42 feet and has a length of 12,320 feet, with a storage capacity of 5,000 acre-feet. The dam is regulated by the Michigan DEGLE and undergoes regular inspections, with a low hazard potential rating and a very high risk assessment due to its proximity to a tributary of the Michigamme River.
Despite its low hazard potential, Republic Mine Tailings Pond Dam B poses a high risk due to its age and location, with the potential for significant environmental impact in the event of a failure. The dam's controlled spillway, with a width of 49 feet, helps manage water levels and reduce the risk of overtopping during heavy rainfall or snowmelt. The dam has not been rated for its condition assessment, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and maintenance to ensure its long-term stability and safety for the surrounding community and ecosystem.
While the dam currently meets regulatory guidelines and has not experienced any significant modifications or incidents, the lack of a formal Emergency Action Plan (EAP) and updated risk management measures raises concerns about its preparedness for potential emergencies. With its high risk assessment and the potential for severe consequences in the event of a failure, ongoing attention to maintenance, monitoring, and emergency preparedness is crucial to mitigate risks and protect water resources and the environment downstream.
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 Republic Mine Tailings Pond Dam B -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Greenwood Release Near Greenwood | 25 cfs | → |
| Middle Branch Escanaba River At Humboldt | 54 cfs | → |
| Greenwood Diversion Near Greenwood | 14 cfs | → |
| Schweitzer Creek Near Palmer | 12 cfs | → |
| Michigamme River Near Crystal Falls | 1,430 cfs | → |
| Middle Branch Escanaba River Nr Princeton | 293 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Republic Mine Tailings Pond Dam B.
Boat launches
- County Road Lf Republic Township
- Public Access Republic Township
- Fence River Road Republic Township
- Elm Road Republic Township
- Greenwood Reservoir Road Ely Township
Campgrounds
- North Horseshoe Lake State Forest Campground
- Squaw Lake State Forest Campground
- Private Camp
- Silver Lake Resort
- West Branch State Forest Campground
- Beaufort Lake State Forest Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- East Branch Net River, From Its Source In Sec 8, T47n, R32w To Confluence With Mainstem Net River In Sec 24, T46n, R34w
- Mainstem, Easternforest Boundary In Sec 1, T44n, R35w To City Of Crystal Falls
- West Branch Net River, From Its Source In Sec 35, T48n, R34w To Confluence With Mainstem Net River In Sec 24, T46n, R34w
- Net River Mainstem, Confluence With East/West Branches To Confluence With The Mainstem Paint River
- From Wagner Lake In Sec 13, T49n, R31w To Eastern Boundary Of The Ottawa Nf In Sec 12, T48n, R35@
- Brule Lake In Ne1/4 Sec 15, T41n, R13e To Forest Boundary In Se1/4 Sec 31, T41n, R17e
Track Republic Mine Tailings Pond Dam B 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 Republic Mine Tailings Pond Dam B
Where does the data for Republic Mine Tailings Pond Dam B 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 Low 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 Republic Mine Tailings Pond Dam B.