Chino Mines Tailings Dam No. 7

About Chino Mines Tailings Dam No. 7

The primary purpose of Chino Mines Tailings Dam No. 7 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 Freeport Mcmoran Corporation (private). It impounds the Whitewater Creek-os near Deming.

The dam stands 230 feet tall and stretches 24,200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,317 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 19,800 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1988, the structure is 38 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. 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 06/30/2020.

At 230 feet, this dam is taller than 99% of all dams in the United States.

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 New Mexico dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.

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