Northshore Mining dam
Northshore Mining
Northshore Mining is a private entity located in Silver Bay, Minnesota, situated near the Beaver River. The dam, primarily used for tailings storage, is an earth structure with a height of 100 feet and a length of 26,000 feet. It has a storage capacity of 31,500 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 1,575 acres, serving a drainage area of 3.5 square miles. The dam is regulated by the Mine Safety and Health Administration, with inspections conducted by the same agency to ensure compliance with safety standards.
The Northshore Mining dam has a high hazard potential, but its condition assessment in 2011 deemed it satisfactory. Emergency action preparedness measures and risk assessments appear to be lacking as of the latest data update in 2021. The dam's last inspection was carried out in October 2020, with a frequency of once a year. The surrounding area and downstream communities should be aware of the potential risks associated with the dam and advocate for proper emergency preparedness and risk management measures to ensure the safety and security of the region.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Northshore Mining presents an intriguing case study in dam infrastructure management and regulation. The intersection of private ownership, state jurisdiction, and federal oversight through agencies like the Mine Safety and Health Administration highlights the complexity of ensuring the safety and environmental impact of such structures. As concerns about climate change and extreme weather events grow, understanding the risk factors and emergency response plans for dams like Northshore Mining becomes increasingly important to safeguard our water resources and communities.
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 Northshore Mining -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Knife River Near Two Harbors | 86 cfs | → |
| South Kawishiwi River Near Ely | 992 cfs | → |
| South Kawishiwi R Abv White Iron Lake Nr Ely | 1,610 cfs | → |
| Kawishiwi River Near Ely | 649 cfs | → |
| Whittlesey Creek Near Ashland | 15 cfs | → |
| Bois Brule River At Brule | 165 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Northshore Mining.
Boat launches
- Lax Lake Public Water Access
- Gitchi-Gami State Trail Lake County
- Lake County
- Stewart Lk Road Lake County
- Two Harbors
- Wanless Road Lake County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Northshore Mining 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 Northshore Mining
Where does the data for Northshore Mining 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 High 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 Northshore Mining.