Elkem Fluid Waste Pond 3a dam
Elkem Fluid Waste Pond 3a
Elkem Fluid Waste Pond 3a, located in Ashtabula, Ohio, is a privately owned tailings dam that was completed in 1967. Managed by the Department of Natural Resources, this earth dam stands at 40 feet high and has a storage capacity of 278 acre-feet. With a surface area of 23.4 acres and a drainage area of 0.1 acres, the dam serves as a crucial structure for storing fluid waste and preventing potential environmental contamination.
Despite being categorized as having a significant hazard potential, Elkem Fluid Waste Pond 3a is currently assessed to be in fair condition as of its last inspection in October 2017. The dam has a spillway capacity of 20 cubic feet per second and a normal storage capacity of 236 acre-feet. While the dam has not been modified in recent years and lacks certain emergency preparedness measures, its condition is regularly monitored with inspections every 5 years to ensure its structural integrity and safety.
Situated near a tributary to Lake Erie, Elkem Fluid Waste Pond 3a plays a critical role in managing tailings and waste materials for the community. As climate change continues to impact water resources, it is essential to prioritize the maintenance and oversight of such structures to prevent potential environmental disasters and ensure the safe management of fluid waste in the region.
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 Elkem Fluid Waste Pond 3a -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Conneaut Creek At Conneaut Oh | 158 cfs | → |
| Brandy Run Near Girard | 3 cfs | → |
| Walnut Creek Upstream Pool | 23 cfs | → |
| Grand River Near Painesville Oh | 353 cfs | → |
| Mosquito Creek Near Greene Center Oh | 6 cfs | → |
| Shenango River At Pymatuning Dam | 193 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Elkem Fluid Waste Pond 3a.
Track Elkem Fluid Waste Pond 3a 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 Elkem Fluid Waste Pond 3a
Where does the data for Elkem Fluid Waste Pond 3a 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 Elkem Fluid Waste Pond 3a.