Tailings Impoundment dam
Tailings Impoundment
The Tailings Impoundment in Madison, Montana is a privately owned structure regulated by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for its significant hazard potential. This earth dam stands at a height of 155 feet and has a storage capacity of 200 acre-feet. While the dam was last inspected in 2009 and deemed to be in "Not Rated" condition, it is subject to state permitting, inspection, and enforcement to ensure public safety and environmental protection.
Located in Cardwell, Montana, the Tailings Impoundment poses a potential risk to communities downstream in the event of a failure. Despite lacking a formal emergency action plan (EAP) and risk assessment, the Mine Safety and Health Administration oversees inspections and operations to mitigate any hazards. As a key component of the Mine Safety and Health Administration's regulatory oversight, this dam serves as a crucial infrastructure for managing mining waste and protecting water resources in the area.
With its location in the Walla Walla District and the oversight of federal and state agencies, the Tailings Impoundment's importance in the regional water management system cannot be understated. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the complexities of maintaining and regulating such structures is essential for ensuring the safety and sustainability of our natural environment in the face of potential hazards and climate challenges.
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 Tailings Impoundment -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ruby River Near Twin Bridges Mt | 31 cfs | → |
| Jefferson River Near Twin Bridges Mt | 1,770 cfs | → |
| Willow Creek Near Harrison Mt | 6 cfs | → |
| Madison River Bl Ennis Lake Nr Mcallister Mt | 1,140 cfs | → |
| Madison River Ab Powerplant Nr Mcallister Mt | 230 cfs | → |
| Ruby River Bl Reservoir Nr Alder Mt | 345 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Tailings Impoundment.
Boat launches
- Trail Creek Day Use
- Power House Boat Launch
- Fall Creek Day Use
- Montana Highway 84 Madison County
- Warm Springs Day Use
- Mt 359 Jefferson County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Beaverhead Boundary Sec. 22, T4s, R4w To Upper Branham Lake, Sec. 5, T4s, R3w
- Madison River
- Beartrap Canyon - Madison Dam To Route 84
More reservoirs
Track Tailings Impoundment 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 Tailings Impoundment
Where does the data for Tailings Impoundment 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 Tailings Impoundment.