Big Hollow Slurry Impoundment dam
Big Hollow Slurry Impoundment
The Big Hollow Slurry Impoundment, also known as the Island Creek Coal Big Hollow Dam, is a private earth dam located in Davella, KY, Kentucky. Standing at a towering height of 356 feet, this dam is primarily used for tailings storage, providing a storage capacity of 8,567 acre-feet. With a hazard potential classified as high, this structure is under the jurisdiction of the Mine Safety and Health Administration, with no state regulation or permitting in place.
Situated in Martin County, Kentucky, this impoundment poses a significant risk due to its high hazard potential and lack of state oversight. Despite its impressive size and capacity, the structure's condition assessment is currently marked as 'Not Available', raising concerns about its safety and maintenance. With no inspection frequency or emergency action plan in place, the Big Hollow Slurry Impoundment highlights the need for enhanced monitoring and risk management measures to ensure the safety of surrounding communities and the environment.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts should be wary of the potential risks associated with the Big Hollow Slurry Impoundment, given its high hazard potential and lack of state regulation or inspection. With its massive size and significant storage capacity, this private earth dam in Kentucky demands increased attention and oversight to prevent any potential disasters or environmental harm. As discussions continue around the safety and management of such structures, it is essential to prioritize the protection of our water resources and the surrounding communities from the potential hazards posed by large impoundments like the Big Hollow Slurry Impoundment.
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 Big Hollow Slurry Impoundment -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Levisa Fork At Paintsville | 702 cfs | → |
| Tug Fork At Kermit | 718 cfs | → |
| Johns Creek Near Meta | 12 cfs | → |
| Tug Fork At Williamson | 591 cfs | → |
| Levisa Fork At Pikeville | 347 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 Big Hollow Slurry Impoundment.
Boat launches
- Levisa Fork Boat Ramp
- Lick Creek Pike County
- Bartram Branch Boat Ramp
- Lick Creek Boat Dock
- Mudlick Branch Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- German Bridge - Dewey Lake
- Jenny Wiley State Park
- Paintsville Lake State Park
- Cabwaylingo State Forest
- Hatfield’S Hideout Riverfront Cabins And Campground
- Grapevine - Fishtrap Lake
Fishing spots
- Windy Bay Fishing Site
- Ramey Creek Fishing Site
- Muskie Bend Fishing Site
- Shallow Flats Wildlife Viewing Area
Paddle runs
Track Big Hollow 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 Big Hollow Slurry Impoundment
Where does the data for Big Hollow 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 Big Hollow Slurry Impoundment.