The many lakes and wetlands of the Cuyuna Iron Range made it difficult to locate and reach ore bodies. The Milford Mine stood between Island Lake and a smaller body of water called Foley Lake, also known as Foley Pond because of its size. This water body was surrounded by wetlands that connected to another pond to the south. The Milford Mine disaster permanently changed the size and shape of Foley Lake, which is now called Milford Lake. Just after the disaster, water was pumped out of the lake, lowering the water level and causing the ice cover to cave. On February 5, 1924, the easternmost extension of the underground mine was about 1,000 feet from the shaft. The committee investigating the disaster concluded that Foley Lake was directly connected to the surrounding wetland, and pressure from the lake caused water to rush into the mine. The collapse occurred at Contract 13, where flooding began.