Kinross Gold Kettle River Reclaim Pond dam
Kinross Gold Kettle River Reclaim Pond
The Kinross Gold Kettle River Reclaim Pond is a privately owned structure in Ferry, Washington, designed by AMEC and regulated by the Washington Dept of Ecology. Completed in 2008, this offstream pond serves as a tailings facility with a maximum storage capacity of 19 acre-feet and a normal storage of 13.2 acre-feet. The dam is an earth type with a hydraulic height of 24 feet and a structural height of 20 feet, providing significant hazard potential but assessed to be in fair condition as of the last inspection in July 2019.
Located near the North Fork of the Sanpoil River, this reclaim pond plays a crucial role in managing tailings waste from mining operations, ensuring proper storage and containment to protect the surrounding environment and water resources. The structure has been inspected every 5 years, with emergency action plans being prepared and updated as necessary to meet safety guidelines. While the risk assessment and management measures are not detailed in the available data, the facility's adherence to state regulations and enforcement mechanisms ensures ongoing compliance with safety standards.
With its strategic design and operational oversight, the Kinross Gold Kettle River Reclaim Pond showcases the intersection of water resource management and climate impact mitigation within the mining sector. As a key component of the company's environmental stewardship efforts, this structure exemplifies the industry's commitment to responsible resource extraction practices while minimizing potential risks to surrounding ecosystems and communities. By prioritizing regulatory compliance, inspection protocols, and emergency preparedness, Kinross Gold demonstrates a proactive approach to sustainable water management in the face of evolving 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 Kinross Gold Kettle River Reclaim Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kettle River Near Ferry | 2,600 cfs | → |
| Colville River At Kettle Falls | 153 cfs | → |
| Kettle River Near Laurier | 4,540 cfs | → |
| Okanogan River Near Tonasket | 5,040 cfs | → |
| Okanogan River At Oroville | 164 cfs | → |
| Omak Creek Near Omak | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kinross Gold Kettle River Reclaim Pond.
Boat launches
- Wayland Cove Road, Republic
- Southwest Bonaparte Lake Road, Tonasket
- Inchelium Kettle Falls Road 4273-4385, Kettle Falls
- Napoleon Road, Kettle Falls
- Highway 25 1834-1836, Kettle Falls
- Long Lake Lane 23, Tonasket
Campgrounds
- Curlew Lake State Park
- Lambert Horse Camp
- Old Stage Horse Camp
- Jungle Hill Horse Campground
- Wapaloosie Horse Campground
- Sherman Overlook
Paddle runs
Track Kinross Gold Kettle River Reclaim Pond 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 Kinross Gold Kettle River Reclaim Pond
Where does the data for Kinross Gold Kettle River Reclaim Pond 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 Kinross Gold Kettle River Reclaim Pond.