Pioneer Tailings dam
Pioneer Tailings
Pioneer Tailings is a local government-owned earth dam located in St. Louis, Minnesota, with a primary purpose of containing tailings. Completed in 1961, this dam stands at 25 feet in height and spans 2000 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 590 acre-feet. Situated near Lonsdorf Creek, this structure has a low hazard potential and has not been rated for condition assessment.
The dam is regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place. Despite being in operation for several decades, the last inspection occurred in August 2016, with an inspection frequency of 8 years. While the dam has not been assessed for condition, it is important to note that emergency action plans, risk assessments, and inundation maps have not been prepared or updated.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Pioneer Tailings presents an intriguing case study in dam management and regulatory oversight. With its historical significance dating back to the 1960s, this structure serves as a reminder of the importance of regular inspections, maintenance, and emergency preparedness in ensuring the safety and integrity of water infrastructure in Minnesota.
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 Pioneer Tailings -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Kawishiwi R Abv White Iron Lake Nr Ely | 2,210 cfs | → |
| South Kawishiwi River Near Ely | 1,450 cfs | → |
| Kawishiwi River Near Ely | 1,010 cfs | → |
| Basswood River Near Winton | 6,670 cfs | → |
| Vermilion River Nr Crane Lake | 1,110 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pioneer Tailings.
Boat launches
- Shagawa Road West Ely
- Saint Louis County
- Fernberg Road Lake County
- Echo Trail Saint Louis County
- North Arm Road Saint Louis County
- Fr 183 Lake County
Campgrounds
- West Twin Lake
- Fenske Lake Campground
- Fenske Lake
- Ymca Camp Dunord
- Bear Island Lake
- South Kawishiwi River
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Wolf Bay Of Lake Vermilion To Section 26, T65n, R17w
- Section 26, T65n, R17w To Section 31, T66n, R17w
- Section 31, T66n, R17w To Crane Lake
- Bwcaw Boundary To Confluence With Plouff Creek
- North Temperance Lake In T63n, R4w To Bwcaw Boundary In T62n, R4w
- Confluence With Plouff Creek To Lake Superior In T59n, R4w
Track Pioneer 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 Pioneer Tailings
Where does the data for Pioneer 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 Pioneer Tailings.