Mckinley Tailings dam
Mckinley Tailings
Mckinley Tailings is a private earth dam located in St. Louis County, Minnesota, with a primary purpose of tailings storage. Completed in 1967, this dam stands at a height of 36 feet and spans a length of 8000 feet. While it has a low hazard potential and has not been rated for its condition, the dam is monitored with inspections every four years.
Situated in a closed system near a river or stream, the Mckinley Tailings dam serves as a vital structure for storing tailings in the region. Despite not being regulated or permitted by the state, this dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area. With a capacity of 2880 acre-feet, the dam is essential for storing and controlling water flow in the vicinity.
While the Mckinley Tailings dam may not have a high hazard potential, it remains an important structure for water resource management in Minnesota. With a history dating back to 1967, this earth dam continues to provide essential services for the local residents and industries in the region. Its regular inspections and maintenance ensure the safety and functionality of this crucial infrastructure.
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 Mckinley Tailings -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Kawishiwi R Abv White Iron Lake Nr Ely | 1,520 cfs | → |
| South Kawishiwi River Near Ely | 942 cfs | → |
| Prairie River Near Taconite | 162 cfs | → |
| Knife River Near Two Harbors | 74 cfs | → |
| Kawishiwi River Near Ely | 542 cfs | → |
| Basswood River Near Winton | 4,190 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mckinley Tailings.
Boat launches
- Ore-Be-Gone Drive Gilbert
- Mesabi Trail Biwabik
- North 9th Avenue West Virginia
- Miller Trunk Road Saint Louis County
- Mesabi Trail , Buhl
- Hoodoo Point Road Tower
Campgrounds
- Vermilion Trail Park Campground
- Sherwood Forest City Campground
- Vermilion Trail
- Sherwood Forest Campground
- Fishermans Point City Campground
- Fisherman's Point Citycampground
Fishing spots
Track Mckinley 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 Mckinley Tailings
Where does the data for Mckinley 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 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 Mckinley Tailings.