Canisteo Pit dam
Canisteo Pit
Canisteo Pit, located in Itasca County, Minnesota, is a privately owned tailings dam with a height of 75 feet and a storage capacity of 52,500 acre-feet. The dam, constructed for the primary purpose of tailings storage, is regulated and inspected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR EWR). With a surface area of 1,500 acres and a drainage area of 7.3 square miles, Canisteo Pit plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region, specifically in the Trout Creek watershed.
Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, Canisteo Pit has not undergone recent modifications or inspections, with the last inspection conducted in August 2016. The dam's emergency action plan (EAP) status and risk assessment measures remain unclear, highlighting the importance of regular monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and resilience of the structure. Water resource and climate enthusiasts in the area can engage with local authorities to advocate for updated inspections, risk assessments, and emergency preparedness measures for Canisteo Pit to safeguard the surrounding environment and community from potential hazards.
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 Canisteo Pit -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi River At Grand Rapids | 489 cfs | → |
| Prairie River Near Taconite | 274 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Aitkin | 2,950 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Canisteo Pit.
⚓ Boat launches
- Trout Lake, Longyear Park
- Prairie Lake (S)
- Trout Lake (N)
- Prairie River (N)
- Crystal Lake
- Prairie Lake (W)
⛺ Campgrounds
- Itasca County Fairgrouds Campground
- Itasca County Fairgrounds
- Kom-On-In Beach Campground
- Pokegama-Coe
- Pokegama Rec Area
- Pug Hole Wayside Park
🎣 Fishing spots
More fishing →🛶 Paddle runs
- The Confluence Of The Prairie River To The Boundary Of Logan And Workman Townships
- Lake Winnigigoshish To Blackwater Lake
- Dora Lake To State Highway 6
- The Boundary Between Logan And Workman Townships In Aitkin County To The Dam Entrance Of The Flood Diversion Channel
- Cass Lake To Lake Winnibigoshish
- The Discharge Of The Flood Diversion Channel To Riverton
Track Canisteo 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 Canisteo Pit
Where does the data for Canisteo 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 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 Canisteo Pit.