Oldhouse Branch Slurry Impoundment dam
Oldhouse Branch Slurry Impoundment
Oldhouse Branch Slurry Impoundment in Roxana, Kentucky, is a private-owned tailings dam with a high hazard potential. The dam, primarily used for tailings disposal, is an earth dam standing at 481 feet tall and spanning a length of 1740 feet. It has a storage capacity of 6049 acre-feet and is not regulated by the state or subject to state inspections or enforcement.
Located in Letcher County, Kentucky, this impoundment is managed by the Mine Safety and Health Administration and falls under the jurisdiction of the Louisville District. Despite its significant size and hazard potential, there is limited data available on its condition assessment, emergency action plan, and risk management measures. With no state regulation or permitting in place, water resource and climate enthusiasts may be concerned about the potential environmental impact and safety of this structure.
Given its high hazard potential and the lack of available information on its condition and management, the Oldhouse Branch Slurry Impoundment serves as a critical point of interest for those interested in water resource management and climate resilience. Further research and monitoring may be necessary to ensure the safety and sustainability of this privately-owned structure in the region.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Oldhouse Branch Slurry Impoundment -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Fork Kentucky River At Whitesburg | 23 cfs | → |
| Poor Fork At Cumberland | 59 cfs | → |
| North Fork Kentucky River At Hazard | 113 cfs | → |
| Powell River At Big Stone Gap | 107 cfs | → |
| Cutshin Creek At Wooton | 17 cfs | → |
| Cranes Nest River Near Clintwood | 29 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Oldhouse Branch Slurry Impoundment.
Boat launches
- Smithsboro Road Perry County
- Carr Creek Dam Road Knott County
- Lake Keokee Loop Lee County
- Park Avenue Hazard
- Big Cherry Road Wise County
Campgrounds
- Littcarr - Carr Creek Lake
- Carr Creek State Park
- Swindall Campsite
- Portal 31 Rv Park
- Indian Grave Campsite
- Cane Patch Campground
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Alternative Route 58
- Fs Route 700 To Confluence With Clinch River
- State Route 72 Bridge To Confluence With Clinch River
- Confluence With Guest River To Confluence With Little Stony Creek
- Confluence Of White Branch With Russell Fork (And 1 Mile Upstream On Pound River) To Railroad Bridge Crossing Above Elkhorn City
Track Oldhouse Branch Slurry Impoundment in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Oldhouse Branch Slurry Impoundment
Where does the data for Oldhouse Branch Slurry Impoundment come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Oldhouse Branch Slurry Impoundment.