Centralia Coal Mine Dam No 3c North

About Centralia Coal Mine Dam No 3c North

The primary purpose of Centralia Coal Mine Dam No 3c North 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 Transalta Centralia Mining Llc (public utility). It impounds the South Hanaford Creek-offstream near Centralia.

The dam stands 134 feet tall and stretches 2,400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 72 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1987, the structure is 39 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/27/2020.

At 134 feet, this dam is taller than 99% of all dams in the United States.

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