Clinch Valley Mine dam
Clinch Valley Mine
Clinch Valley Mine in Grainger, Tennessee, is a private tailings dam managed by the Mine Safety and Health Administration. The dam stands at a height of 70 feet and serves the primary purpose of storing tailings. While specific details such as dam length, volume, and storage capacity are not provided, the significant hazard potential of the dam indicates the need for attention and monitoring.
Located in the Nashville District, Clinch Valley Mine is situated in a region represented by Tim Burchett (R) with no specified town nearby. Despite being unlisted for inspection frequency and condition assessment, the dam's buttress core type suggests a sturdy design. With no state regulation or permitting required, the dam's ownership and operation solely fall under private entities, raising questions about accountability and oversight in the event of any environmental risks.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts may find interest in the unique characteristics of Clinch Valley Mine, given its undisclosed inspection dates and limited information on storage capacity. The dam's lack of state jurisdiction and regulatory agency oversight could pose challenges in ensuring its safety and compliance with environmental standards. As a significant hazard potential structure, the dam's condition assessment and emergency preparedness measures remain critical aspects to monitor for the protection of the surrounding ecosystem and water resources.
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 Clinch Valley Mine -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Clinch River Above Tazewell | 856 cfs | → |
| Powell River Near Arthur | 381 cfs | → |
| Crockett Creek Below Rogersville | 23 cfs | → |
| Nolichucky River Near Lowland | 1,000 cfs | → |
| Martins Fork Above Smith | 15 cfs | → |
| Big Creek Near Rogersville | 12 cfs | → |
About Clinch Valley Mine
Where does the data for Clinch Valley Mine 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 below 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.
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.