Reservoir No. 2
Reservoir No. 2 is an earth dam located in Itasca County, Minnesota, built in 1972. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Reservoir No. 2
The primary purpose of Reservoir No. 2 is tailings. Tailings dams contain waste material from mining operations — typically a slurry of finely ground rock left over after valuable minerals have been extracted. These structures require ongoing monitoring because tailings can contain heavy metals and other contaminants. The dam is owned by Us Steel (private). It impounds the Welcome Creek near Pengilly.
The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 4,450 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 7,760 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 9 square miles. Completed in 1972, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 09/29/2021.
At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 87% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Itasca |
| Nearest City | Pengilly |
| River/Stream | Welcome Creek |
| Coordinates | 47.35236, -93.11097 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Length | 4,450 ft |
| Year Completed | 1972 (54 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 7,760 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 7,760 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 4,270 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 9 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 310 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Tailings |
| Owner | US Steel |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/29/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MN00799 |
| Federal ID | MN00799 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |