Young Mill Tailings dam
Young Mill Tailings
Young Mill Tailings in Jefferson, Tennessee, is a privately owned Earth dam structure with a height of 145 feet and a length of 4440 feet. Completed in 1998, this tailings dam serves the primary purpose of storing tailings material, with a maximum storage capacity of 1393 acre-feet. The dam is regulated by the Tennessee Safe Dams Program and has a high hazard potential, although its condition assessment as of November 2020 was deemed satisfactory.
Located in New Market, Tennessee, the Young Mill Tailings dam poses a moderate risk, according to a recent assessment. The Mine Safety and Health Administration oversees the regulatory aspects of the dam, including inspections. Despite being uncontrolled, the spillway type at the dam is specified. The dam's emergency action plan status and inundation maps preparation remain unclear, highlighting potential areas for improvement in risk management and emergency preparedness.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Young Mill Tailings offers an intriguing case study in dam infrastructure and management practices. With its significant height, storage capacity, and hazard potential, this Earth dam prompts questions about safety protocols, emergency response readiness, and regulatory oversight in the context of environmental stewardship. As the dam continues to be monitored and inspected regularly, stakeholders can track its condition and risk profile to ensure the protection of surrounding communities and natural resources.
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 Young Mill Tailings -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Pigeon River At Sevierville | 153 cfs | → |
| Bullrun Creek Near Halls Crossroads | 15 cfs | → |
| Nolichucky River Near Lowland | 660 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Maryville | 120 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Alcoa | 133 cfs | → |
| Pigeon River At Newport | 270 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Young Mill Tailings.
Boat launches
- Nance Ferry Road Grainger County
- Renfro Road 2637, Jefferson City
- Tva Dam Road, Jefferson City
- Sevier County
- River Island Boulevard Knox County
- Seven Islands Road Seven Islands
Campgrounds
- Cherokee Dam
- Douglas Dam Tailwater
- Douglas Dam Headwater
- Sevier County Park - Douglas Reservoir
- Dandridge Municipal Park - Douglas Reservoir
- May Springs
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Young Mill Tailings 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 Young Mill Tailings
Where does the data for Young Mill Tailings 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 High 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 Young Mill Tailings.