Erie Basin 2
Erie Basin 2 is an earth dam located in St. Louis County, Minnesota, built in 1978. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Erie Basin 2
The primary purpose of Erie Basin 2 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 Poly Met Mining, Inc. (private). It impounds the Embarrass River-tr near Hoyt Lakes.
The dam stands 250 feet tall and stretches 20,500 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 25,035 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1978, the structure is 48 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. The most recent inspection on record was 10/05/2022.
At 250 feet, this dam is taller than 99% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | Minnesota |
| County | St. Louis |
| Nearest City | Hoyt Lakes |
| River/Stream | Embarrass River-tr |
| Coordinates | 47.61324, -92.15247 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 250 ft |
| Dam Height | 250 ft |
| Dam Length | 20,500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1978 (48 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 25,035 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 25,035 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 6,375 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 67 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Tailings |
| Owner | Poly Met Mining, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/05/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MN00664 |
| Federal ID | MN00664 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |