Douglas Tailings dam
Douglas Tailings
Douglas Tailings, located in St. Louis County, Minnesota, is a significant Earth dam that was completed in 1960 with a primary purpose of storing tailings. The dam stands at a height of 40 feet and spans a length of 5600 feet, with a storage capacity of 3920 acre-feet. It is regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety and structural integrity.
The dam poses a significant hazard potential due to its size and location near the Dempsey Creek-TR river/stream. However, its condition assessment as of July 2008 was deemed satisfactory, indicating that the structure is currently in good shape. Despite its age, Douglas Tailings has been well maintained and meets state permitting, inspection, and enforcement requirements. The dam is owned by the local government and is crucial for managing tailings and water resources in the area.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Douglas Tailings an intriguing site for its role in storing tailings and regulating water flow in the region. Its proximity to a river/stream and its significant storage capacity make it a vital infrastructure for managing water resources in St. Louis County, Minnesota. With its satisfactory condition assessment and regular inspections, the dam serves as a model for responsible water resource management in the state.
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 Douglas Tailings -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Prairie River Near Taconite | 159 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Grand Rapids | 457 cfs | → |
| South Kawishiwi R Abv White Iron Lake Nr Ely | 1,490 cfs | → |
| St. Louis River At Scanlon | 2,720 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Douglas Tailings.
Boat launches
- 6th Street Northeast , Chisholm
- Mesabi Trail , Buhl
- North 9th Avenue West Virginia
- O'Brien Reservoir
- Blue Lake/Obrien (Nashwauk)
Campgrounds
- Stubler Beach Campgrounds
- Buhl Rv Park
- Stubler Beach
- North Hibbing Campground
- West Two River
- Nashwauk Campground
Fishing spots
Track Douglas 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 Douglas Tailings
Where does the data for Douglas 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 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 Douglas Tailings.