Inland Steel Tailings dam
Inland Steel Tailings
The Inland Steel Tailings, also known as the Minorca T Basin Dike, is a private earth dam located in St. Louis County, Minnesota. Completed in 1976, this structure stands at a height of 44 feet and stretches for 12,000 feet, serving the primary purpose of containing tailings from mining activities. With a storage capacity of 14,500 acre-feet, it is regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its satisfactory condition.
Situated near the Wouri Creek in a rural area, the Inland Steel Tailings poses a high hazard potential due to its significant storage capacity and proximity to surrounding communities. Despite this, the dam has been assessed as satisfactory and meets regulatory guidelines. It is crucial for local residents and authorities to stay vigilant and prepared in case of emergencies, as the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region.
As an integral part of the local water infrastructure, the Inland Steel Tailings serves as a key component in the mining operations in the area. With its earth construction and buttress core type, the dam plays a vital role in managing tailings and ensuring the safety of the environment and nearby communities. It stands as a testament to the importance of responsible water resource management and the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to prevent potential risks and safeguard the surrounding ecosystem.
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 Inland Steel Tailings -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Kawishiwi R Abv White Iron Lake Nr Ely | 1,720 cfs | → |
| South Kawishiwi River Near Ely | 1,160 cfs | → |
| Prairie River Near Taconite | 173 cfs | → |
| Vermilion River Nr Crane Lake | 1,000 cfs | → |
| Kawishiwi River Near Ely | 794 cfs | → |
| Basswood River Near Winton | 5,750 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Inland Steel Tailings.
Boat launches
- North 9th Avenue West Virginia
- Mesabi Trail Biwabik
- Ore-Be-Gone Drive Gilbert
- Miller Trunk Road Saint Louis County
- Mesabi Trail , Buhl
- Hoodoo Point Road Tower
Campgrounds
- Big Rice Lake
- Vermilion Trail Park Campground
- Vermilion Trail
- Sherwood Forest City Campground
- Sherwood Forest Campground
- Pfeiffer Lakes -Usfs
Fishing spots
Track Inland Steel Tailings 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 Inland Steel Tailings
Where does the data for Inland Steel Tailings 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 High 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 Inland Steel Tailings.