Lick Branch Refuse Impoundment dam
Lick Branch Refuse Impoundment
Lick Branch Refuse Impoundment, located in Blackburn Bottom, Kentucky, is a privately owned structure primarily used for tailings disposal. This Earth-type dam stands at an impressive 250 feet in height and stretches over 930 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 5337 acre-feet. Despite not being regulated by the state, it falls under the jurisdiction of the Mine Safety and Health Administration, ensuring safety and compliance with federal regulations.
With a high hazard potential, the condition assessment of Lick Branch Refuse Impoundment is currently listed as "Not Available," signaling a need for further inspection and monitoring. While the emergency action plan status and risk assessment details are also lacking, it is crucial for water resource and climate enthusiasts to recognize the significance of this structure in terms of potential environmental impact and safety concerns. As a key player in waste management operations, this impoundment demands attention and oversight to mitigate any potential risks to surrounding ecosystems and communities.
As a critical component in the disposal of tailings, the Lick Branch Refuse Impoundment serves a vital purpose in the mining industry. Its massive size and high hazard potential highlight the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to prevent any catastrophic events. Climate and water resource enthusiasts should keep a close eye on developments regarding this structure to ensure environmental protection and community safety are prioritized in its operation and management.
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 Lick Branch Refuse Impoundment -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Johns Creek Near Meta | 9 cfs | → |
| Grapevine Creek Near Phyllis | 1 cfs | → |
| Levisa Fork At Pikeville | 221 cfs | → |
| Tug Fork At Williamson | 267 cfs | → |
| Levisa Fork At Big Rock | 86 cfs | → |
| Tug Fork At Kermit | 354 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lick Branch Refuse Impoundment.
Campgrounds
- Grapevine - Fishtrap Lake
- Hatfield’S Hideout Riverfront Cabins And Campground
- German Bridge - Dewey Lake
- Breaks Interstate Park
- Jenny Wiley State Park
- Lower Twin Branch - John W. Flannagan Reservoir
Paddle runs
- Confluence Of White Branch With Russell Fork (And 1 Mile Upstream On Pound River) To Railroad Bridge Crossing Above Elkhorn City
- State Route 72 Bridge To Confluence With Clinch River
- Confluence With Guest River To Confluence With Little Stony Creek
- Fs Route 700 To Confluence With Clinch River
- Headwaters To Alternative Route 58
Track Lick Branch Refuse 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 Lick Branch Refuse Impoundment
Where does the data for Lick Branch Refuse 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 Lick Branch Refuse Impoundment.