Coppers Fork Refuse Dam dam
Coppers Fork Refuse Dam
Coppers Fork Refuse Dam in Middlesboro, Kentucky, is a private earth dam primarily used for tailings storage, with a dam height of 530 feet and a length of 1500 feet. Managed by the Mine Safety and Health Administration, this dam has a storage capacity of 3200 acre-feet and is situated in a high hazard potential area. Despite not being regulated or inspected by the state, this dam serves an essential purpose in managing tailings and waste materials.
Located in Bell County, Kentucky, this dam poses a high risk due to its condition assessment not being available and the lack of emergency action plans in place. With no recent inspection data or risk management measures reported, there is a need for increased oversight and monitoring to ensure the safety and stability of Coppers Fork Refuse Dam. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is important to advocate for proper maintenance and regulation of such dams to prevent potential disasters and protect surrounding communities and ecosystems.
As enthusiasts interested in water resources and climate, it is crucial to recognize the significance of dams like Coppers Fork Refuse Dam and advocate for proper monitoring and maintenance. With high hazard potential and limited state oversight, there is a pressing need for improved risk assessment, emergency action planning, and overall management to ensure the safety and integrity of this structure. By raising awareness and calling for necessary measures, we can contribute to the protection of water resources and the environment in the face of potential risks and challenges.
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 Coppers Fork Refuse Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Powell River Near Arthur | 577 cfs | → |
| Clear Fork At Saxton | 517 cfs | → |
| Cumberland River At Williamsburg | 1,630 cfs | → |
| Clinch River Above Tazewell | 1,690 cfs | → |
| Lynn Camp Creek At Corbin | 21 cfs | → |
| Cumberland River Near Harlan | 348 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Coppers Fork Refuse Dam.
Boat launches
- Wells Springs Road Campbell County
- Highway 33 South 5799, Claiborne County
- Claiborne County
- Boat Access Claiborne County
- Redbird Road Whitley County
- Whitley County
Campgrounds
- Pine Mountain State Park
- Wilderness Road - Cumberland Gap National Park
- Gibson Gap
- Bunch Hollow Campground & Resort
- Martins Fork Cabin
- Camp Cargill
Paddle runs
- Kentucky Road 478 To Kentucky Road 679
- Kentucky Road 679 To Confluence Of Cumberland River
- 4 Miles Downstream From The Kentucky Highway 90 Bridge To Confluence With Cane Creek
- Kentucky Road 80 Bridge To Downstream Part Of Rockcastle Narrows
- Tn/Ky State Line To White Oak Junction
Track Coppers Fork Refuse Dam 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 Coppers Fork Refuse Dam
Where does the data for Coppers Fork Refuse Dam 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 Coppers Fork Refuse Dam.