Sauntry Creek Settling, located in St. Louis County, Minnesota, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1977 for the primary purpose of tailings storage. With a height of 32 feet and a length of 600 feet, this dam has a storage capacity of 1,500 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 58 acres. Sauntry Creek serves as the water source for the dam and has a drainage area of 0.27 square miles.

Despite being categorized as a low hazard potential structure with a fair condition assessment, Sauntry Creek Settling is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Environmental and Water Resources division. The last inspection took place in August 2013, with a frequency of every 8 years. The surrounding area is under the jurisdiction of state regulatory agencies, ensuring compliance with safety and environmental standards.

For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Sauntry Creek Settling presents an interesting case study in dam management and environmental stewardship. The dam's role in tailings storage highlights the intersection of water resource utilization and industrial activities, while its state-regulated status underscores the importance of maintaining infrastructure integrity and safety in the face of changing climate conditions. As we continue to navigate the challenges of water resource management in a warming world, structures like Sauntry Creek Settling serve as important touchstones for understanding the evolving relationship between water, climate, and human development.