West Hill Mine Pit dam
West Hill Mine Pit
West Hill Mine Pit, located in Coleraine, Minnesota, is a privately owned rockfill dam with a storage capacity of 2300 acre-feet. This significant structure is regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations. Despite its condition being rated as "Not Rated", the dam's hazard potential is considered to be significant, highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring and risk management measures.
The dam, completed in an unspecified year, serves a primary purpose that falls under the "Other" category, with no specific details provided on its design or construction. The last inspection conducted on June 6, 2018, indicated that the dam has an inspection frequency of 4 years, suggesting a consistent monitoring schedule. While there are no emergency action plans or inundation maps prepared for this structure, the presence of outlet gates signifies some level of operational control over water flow.
As a point of interest for water resource and climate enthusiasts, the West Hill Mine Pit presents an opportunity for further study and engagement in understanding the management of water resources in the region. Its location in Koochiching County and affiliation with Congressional District 08, Minnesota, adds to its significance within the local landscape. The dam's presence underscores the importance of maintaining infrastructure to mitigate potential hazards and ensure the sustainable use of water resources in the area.
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 West Hill Mine Pit -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Fork River At Big Falls | 618 cfs | → |
| Little Fork River At Littlefork | 1,240 cfs | → |
| Gold Portage Outlet From Kabetogama Lk Nr Ray | 467 cfs | → |
| Vermilion River Nr Crane Lake | 1,110 cfs | → |
| Prairie River Near Taconite | 202 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near West Hill Mine Pit.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Big Falls City
- Button Box ? George Washington State Forest
- Sturgeon River State Forest Landing
- Erskine Lake Dispersed Camp Site
- Sucker Lake Dispersed Camp Site
- Samuelson County Park
Fishing spots
Track West Hill Mine Pit 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 West Hill Mine Pit
Where does the data for West Hill Mine Pit 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 West Hill Mine Pit.