Monkey Run Mine Dam dam
Monkey Run Mine Dam
Monkey Run Mine Dam, also known as Impoundment 173 Dam, is a tailings dam located in Wythe, Virginia. This earth dam stands at a height of 25 feet and has a storage capacity of 40 acre-feet. The dam's primary purpose is to store tailings from the mining operation, with a surface area of 2 acres and draining an area of 0.5 square miles.
Despite being not regulated by the state and lacking regular inspections, Monkey Run Mine Dam's hazard potential is currently undetermined, with a condition assessment that is not rated. Emergency preparedness measures such as an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) and risk assessments are yet to be determined for this dam. The dam's risk management measures and inundation maps have not been prepared, highlighting potential vulnerabilities in case of a dam failure.
While Monkey Run Mine Dam may seem to fly under the radar in terms of regulatory oversight and inspection, its condition and emergency preparedness remain uncertain. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, this dam serves as a reminder of the importance of monitoring and maintaining infrastructure to prevent potential hazards and ensure the safety of surrounding communities and ecosystems.
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 Monkey Run Mine Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| M F Holston River At Seven Mile Ford | 48 cfs | → |
| New River At Ivanhoe | 632 cfs | → |
| S F Holston River At Riverside Nr Chilhowie | 42 cfs | → |
| Reed Creek At Grahams Forge | 91 cfs | → |
| Bluestone River At Falls Mills | 18 cfs | → |
| N F Holston River Near Saltville | 67 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Monkey Run Mine Dam.
Boat launches
- Ivanhoe Boat Launch
- Cox's Chapel Road Grayson County
- New River Trail Carroll County
- Riverside Boat Ramp
- River Road 558, Saltville
- Pattons Mill Lane 1434, Grayson County
Campgrounds
- Rural Retreat Lake
- Stony Fork Campground
- Stony Fork Cabin
- Stony Fork
- Blue Springs Gap Cabin
- Hungry Mother State Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Whitetop Laurel--Jefferson Nf Boundary (Intersection Of Hwy 58 And Sr 859) To Jefferson Nf Boundary Above Damascus
- Green Cove--Jefferson Nf Near Confluence Of Star Hill Branch To Confluence With Whitetop Laurel
- The U.S. Route 460 Bridge In Glen Lyn, Virginia To The Maximum Summer Pool Elevation Of Bluestone Lake, South Of Hinton, West Virginia
- Headwaters To Tn/Va State Line
- Jefferson Nf Boundary (Above Cascades Fall) To Jefferson Nf Boundary (Below Cascades Fall)
- Jefferson Nf Boundary Near Confluence With Nettle Hollow To Confluence With Laurel Branch
Track Monkey Run Mine Dam 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 Monkey Run Mine Dam
Where does the data for Monkey Run Mine Dam 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 Undetermined 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 Monkey Run Mine Dam.