Argenta Tailings Dam

About Argenta Tailings Dam

The primary purpose of Argenta Tailings Dam 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 Argenta Llc (private). It impounds the Humboldt River-os near Carlin.

The dam stands 36 feet tall and stretches 4,700 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 9 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 285 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1991, the structure is 35 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/06/2021.

At 36 feet, this dam is taller than 83% of dams nationwide.

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