Pads Branch Slurry Impoundment dam
Pads Branch Slurry Impoundment
Pads Branch Slurry Impoundment is a privately owned tailings dam located in Manuel, Perry County, Kentucky. This earth-filled dam stands at a height of 67 feet and stretches for 3000 feet, with a storage capacity of 935.7 acre-feet. Despite not being regulated by the state, the Mine Safety and Health Administration oversees its operations and inspections, ensuring its hazard potential remains low.
The dam, primarily used for tailings storage, poses minimal risk according to available data, with its condition assessment marked as "Not Available." While information on emergency preparedness, risk assessment, and management measures is lacking, the dam's design and purpose align with industry standards. The surrounding area is deemed safe from potential inundation, indicating a low likelihood of catastrophic failure.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Pads Branch Slurry Impoundment presents an opportunity to study the engineering and environmental considerations of tailings dams in Kentucky. With its non-federal ownership and oversight by the Mine Safety and Health Administration, this structure serves as a case study in private dam management practices and regulatory frameworks. Further research into its operation, maintenance, and emergency response protocols could shed light on best practices for ensuring the safety and sustainability of similar impoundments 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 Pads Branch Slurry Impoundment -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Fork Kentucky River At Hazard | 113 cfs | → |
| Cutshin Creek At Wooton | 17 cfs | → |
| North Fork Kentucky River At Jackson | 418 cfs | → |
| Middle Fork Kentucky River At Tallega | 80 cfs | → |
| South Fork Kentucky River At Booneville | 322 cfs | → |
| Licking River Below Mason Fork Nr Salyersville | 32 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pads Branch Slurry Impoundment.
Boat launches
- Park Avenue Hazard
- Marina Lane 231, Perry County
- Carr Creek Dam Road Knott County
- Smithsboro Road Perry County
- Jackson Road Beattyville
- Water Street Beattyville
Campgrounds
- Trace Branch - Buckhorn Lake
- Gays Creek Campground
- Buckhorn Dam Rec Area - Buckhorn Lake
- Willie Begley Memorial Rv Park
- Carr Creek State Park
- Littcarr - Carr Creek Lake
Fishing spots
- Lake Keokee Day Use Area
- Windy Bay Fishing Site
- Ramey Creek Fishing Site
- Muskie Bend Fishing Site
- Shallow Flats Wildlife Viewing Area
- Bark Camp Recreation Area
Paddle runs
- Turkey Foot Campground To Confluence With South Fork Of Station Camp Creek
- Headwaters To Alternative Route 58
- Confluence Of White Branch With Russell Fork (And 1 Mile Upstream On Pound River) To Railroad Bridge Crossing Above Elkhorn City
- Fs Route 700 To Confluence With Clinch River
- State Route 72 Bridge To Confluence With Clinch River
Track Pads 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 Pads Branch Slurry Impoundment
Where does the data for Pads 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 Low 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 Pads Branch Slurry Impoundment.