Beartree Branch Slurry Impoundment dam
Beartree Branch Slurry Impoundment
Located in Harlan, Kentucky, the Beartree Branch Slurry Impoundment, also known as Beartree Dam, is a privately owned structure primarily used for water supply purposes. Standing at a height of 345 feet and stretching over a length of 1100 feet, this earth dam holds a storage capacity of 1945 acre-feet. With a high hazard potential, it falls under the regulatory oversight of the Mine Safety and Health Administration, ensuring safety standards are met for its operation.
Despite not being state regulated or permitted, the Beartree Branch Slurry Impoundment poses a potential risk due to its high hazard potential. The structure lacks recent data on condition assessment and emergency action plans, raising concerns regarding its readiness for potential disasters. With the dam's location in Pathfork and its close proximity to water resources, enthusiasts and climate advocates should monitor its status closely to ensure the safety and protection of the surrounding environment.
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 Beartree Branch Slurry Impoundment -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Martins Fork Above Smith | 51 cfs | → |
| Martins Fork Near Smith | 29 cfs | → |
| Cumberland River Near Harlan | 348 cfs | → |
| Powell River Near Arthur | 577 cfs | → |
| Powell River Near Jonesville | 241 cfs | → |
| Clinch River Above Tazewell | 1,690 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Beartree Branch Slurry Impoundment.
Boat launches
- Boat Access Claiborne County
- Lee Highway 6955, Bean Station
- Lee Highway 5475, Bean Station
- Jesus Church Road, Mooresburg
- Harbor Drive Boat Launch
- County Line Road 1286, Mooresburg
Campgrounds
- Martins Fork Cabin
- Gibson Gap
- Wilderness Road - Cumberland Gap National Park
- Pine Mountain State Park
- Bunch Hollow Campground & Resort
- Camp Cargill
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Alternative Route 58
- Fs Route 700 To Confluence With Clinch River
- 4 Miles Downstream From The Kentucky Highway 90 Bridge To Confluence With Cane Creek
- Kentucky Road 679 To Confluence Of Cumberland River
- Kentucky Road 478 To Kentucky Road 679
- Kentucky Road 80 Bridge To Downstream Part Of Rockcastle Narrows
Track Beartree 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 Beartree Branch Slurry Impoundment
Where does the data for Beartree 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 Beartree Branch Slurry Impoundment.