Fort Knox Tailings Dam
Fort Knox Tailings Dam is a rockfill dam located in Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska, built in 1996. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Fort Knox Tailings Dam
The primary purpose of Fort Knox Tailings Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Fairbanks Gold Mining, Inc. (private). It impounds the Fish Creek near Chatineka.
The dam stands 350 feet tall and stretches 4,415 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 950 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 136,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 7 square miles. Completed in 1996, the structure is 30 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/11/2018.
At 350 feet, this dam is taller than 99% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | Alaska |
| County | Fairbanks North Star Borough |
| Nearest City | Chatineka |
| River/Stream | Fish Creek |
| Coordinates | 65.00140, -147.29760 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 350 ft |
| Dam Height | 350 ft |
| Dam Length | 4,415 ft |
| Year Completed | 1996 (30 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 136,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 136,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 132,200 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 950 acres |
| Drainage Area | 7 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | FAIRBANKS GOLD MINING, INC. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 07/11/2018 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AK00212 |
| Federal ID | AK00212 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |