Aps Lined Decant Water Pond

About Aps Lined Decant Water Pond

The primary purpose of Aps Lined Decant Water Pond 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 Arizona Public Service Company (public utility). It impounds the Chaco Wash - Tr near Shiprock.

The dam stands 86 feet tall and stretches 5,740 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 42 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 422 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 2003, the structure is relatively new.

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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/20/2019.

At 86 feet, this dam is taller than 97% of all dams in the United States.

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