Mesabi Chief Tailings 2 dam
Mesabi Chief Tailings 2
Mesabi Chief Tailings 2 is a privately owned tailings dam located in Itasca County, Minnesota, near the city of Keewatin. Completed in 1952, this earth dam stands at a height of 40 feet and has a length of 9600 feet, with a storage capacity of 7760 acre-feet. The dam is regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, with regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity and compliance with state regulations.
With a low hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment, Mesabi Chief Tailings 2 serves the primary purpose of storing tailings from mining operations in the area. The dam is situated along the Swan River-TR and is designed as an earth dam with a buttress core type. While the dam has not undergone any modifications in recent years, it remains a crucial structure for managing mine waste and protecting the surrounding environment.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Mesabi Chief Tailings 2 offers a fascinating insight into the engineering and regulatory aspects of tailings dams. With its location in a mining-intensive region and the potential environmental risks associated with tailings storage, the dam serves as a reminder of the importance of proper design, maintenance, and oversight in managing water resources and protecting ecosystems. As the dam continues to be monitored and inspected regularly, it showcases the ongoing efforts to mitigate any potential hazards and ensure the safety of the surrounding community and environment.
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 Mesabi Chief Tailings 2 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Prairie River Near Taconite | 146 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Grand Rapids | 247 cfs | → |
| St. Louis River At Scanlon | 2,210 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mesabi Chief Tailings 2.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Nashwauk Campground
- North Hibbing Campground
- Stubler Beach Campgrounds
- Buhl Rv Park
- Kom-On-In Beach Campground
- Stubler Beach
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- The Confluence Of The Prairie River To The Boundary Of Logan And Workman Townships
- Dora Lake To State Highway 6
- Lake Winnigigoshish To Blackwater Lake
- The Boundary Between Logan And Workman Townships In Aitkin County To The Dam Entrance Of The Flood Diversion Channel
- Upper Saint Louis
Track Mesabi Chief Tailings 2 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 Mesabi Chief Tailings 2
Where does the data for Mesabi Chief Tailings 2 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 Mesabi Chief Tailings 2.