Eveleth Taconite Tailings
Eveleth Taconite Tailings is an earth dam located in St. Louis County, Minnesota, built in 1978. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Eveleth Taconite Tailings
The primary purpose of Eveleth Taconite Tailings 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 United Taconite - Cliffs (private). It impounds the St. Louis River-tr near Forbes.
The dam stands 50 feet tall and stretches 21,000 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,419 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1978, the structure is 48 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/16/2024.
At 50 feet, this dam is taller than 93% of dams nationwide.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Minnesota dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Minnesota |
| County | St. Louis |
| Nearest City | Forbes |
| River/Stream | St. Louis River-tr |
| Coordinates | 47.34085, -92.56788 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Length | 21,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1978 (48 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,419 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,419 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,958 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Tailings |
| Owner | United Taconite - Cliffs |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Last Inspection | 08/16/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MN00673 |
| Federal ID | MN00673 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |