Nixon Fork Tailings Dam

About Nixon Fork Tailings Dam

The primary purpose of Nixon Fork 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 Mystery Creek Resources (private). It impounds the Ruby Creek-tr near Mcgrath.

The dam stands 64 feet tall and stretches 510 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 77 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1995, the structure is 31 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 10/15/2018.

At 64 feet, this dam is taller than 96% of all dams in the United States.

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