Van Stone Tailings Dam dam
Van Stone Tailings Dam
The Van Stone Tailings Dam, located in Stevens County, Washington, was completed in 1970 with a primary purpose of storing tailings. This earth dam, with a structural height of 90 feet and a length of 2000 feet, has a maximum storage capacity of 150 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 20 acres. Despite its significant hazard potential, the dam is in poor condition, as assessed in September 2021, raising concerns among water resource and climate enthusiasts.
Managed by a private owner, the Van Stone Tailings Dam is regulated by the Washington Department of Ecology and undergoes inspections every five years. The dam's poor condition and significant hazard potential highlight the importance of regular maintenance and risk management measures to ensure the safety of surrounding communities and the environment. With a drainage area of 0.04 square miles and offstream location, the dam's impact on water resources and climate in the region is a topic of interest for enthusiasts in the field.
As climate change continues to pose challenges to water resource management, the condition of dams like Van Stone Tailings Dam becomes increasingly critical. With its outdated Emergency Action Plan last revised in 2008 and no updated risk assessment or management measures in place, there is a pressing need for improved monitoring and maintenance to address potential risks associated with this structure. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, staying informed about the state of dams like the Van Stone Tailings Dam is essential for promoting environmental sustainability and community safety in the face of changing climatic conditions.
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 Van Stone Tailings Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia River At International Boundary | 141,000 cfs | → |
| Colville River At Kettle Falls | 153 cfs | → |
| Pend Oreille River Below Box Canyon Near Ione | 40,700 cfs | → |
| Kettle River Near Laurier | 4,540 cfs | → |
| Outlet Creek Near Metaline Falls | 19 cfs | → |
| Priest R Outflow Nr Coolin | 605 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Van Stone Tailings Dam.
Boat launches
- Highway 25 3134, Northport
- Park Road, Northport
- Highway 25 1903-1937, Evans
- Northport Flat Creek Road 2122-2396, Kettle Falls
- Napoleon Road, Kettle Falls
- Black Lake-Squaw Creek Road 1976-2198, Colville
Campgrounds
- North Gorge - Lake Roosevelt National Rec Area-
- North Gorge Campground
- Evans - Lake Roosevelt National Rec Area
- Evans Campground
- Big Meadow Lake Campground
- Big Meadow Lake
Paddle runs
- Ne1/4 Of Sec 13, T40n, R46e To Nw1/4 Of Sec 5, T40n, R46e
- Segment 1 Is Classified As Wild And Flows From Its Source For Almost Five Miles To The Intersection With Trail 312 To Segment 1 Is Classified As Wild And Flows From Its Source For Almost To The Intersection With Trail 312
- Segment 2 Flows For Almost 10 Miles From The Intersection With Trail 312 To Its Confluence With The Upper Priest River To Segment 2 Flows For Almost 10 Miles From The Intersection With Trail 312 To Its Confluence With The Upper Priest River
- Upper Priest River
Track Van Stone Tailings 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 Van Stone Tailings Dam
Where does the data for Van Stone Tailings 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 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 Van Stone Tailings Dam.