Tonkin Springs Tailings Dam

About Tonkin Springs Tailings Dam

The primary purpose of Tonkin Springs 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 Tonkin Springs Llc C/o Mcewen Mining (private). It impounds the Denay Creek-os.

The dam stands 65 feet tall and stretches 4,172 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 75 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,625 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1989, the structure is 37 years old.

This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected 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 04/22/2020.

At 65 feet, this dam is taller than 96% of all dams in the United States.

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