Shumate Creek Slurry Impoundment dam
Shumate Creek Slurry Impoundment
The Shumate Creek Slurry Impoundment in Edwight, West Virginia, is a private tailings dam with a height of 390 feet and a storage capacity of 10,273 acre-feet. Owned and operated by a private entity, this impoundment is not regulated by the state and does not have a state permit for operation or inspection. The primary purpose of this earth dam is to store tailings, and it is associated with the Mine Safety and Health Administration for regulatory oversight and inspections.
Located in Raleigh County, this high-hazard potential impoundment poses a significant risk in case of a failure. However, data on the condition assessment and emergency preparedness of the dam are not available. Despite its lack of state regulation and inspection, the Mine Safety and Health Administration is responsible for overseeing the safety and operations of the Shumate Creek Slurry Impoundment. With its large storage capacity and high hazard potential, ensuring the stability and integrity of this dam is crucial for protecting water resources and the surrounding environment.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is important to monitor and advocate for the safe operation and maintenance of structures like the Shumate Creek Slurry Impoundment. Given its significant storage capacity and high hazard potential, understanding the regulatory oversight, condition assessment, and emergency preparedness of this dam is essential for mitigating risks and protecting water resources in the region. Collaboration between stakeholders, regulatory agencies, and the private owner is necessary to ensure the safety and integrity of this impoundment for the long-term sustainability of water resources and the 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 Shumate Creek Slurry Impoundment -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Clear Fork At Whitesville | 24 cfs | → |
| Guyandotte River Near Baileysville | 168 cfs | → |
| Clear Fork At Clear Fork | 40 cfs | → |
| Piney Creek At Raleigh | 23 cfs | → |
| Guyandotte River At Man | 968 cfs | → |
| Big Coal River At Ashford | 155 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Shumate Creek Slurry Impoundment.
Boat launches
- Johnstown Road Raleigh County
- Logan County
- Stone Cliff Trail Fayette County
- State Route 41 Fayette County
- Raleigh County
- Fayette Station Road Fayetteville
Campgrounds
- Guyandotte
- Summit Bechtel Reserve
- Army Camp
- Primitive Camping
- Chief Logan State Park
- Chestnut Creek Campground
Paddle runs
- The Route U.S. 19 Bridge To The Confluence With The Gauley River
- Bluestone Dam To Gauley Bridge
- Bluestone Dam To Sandstone
- Meadow Creek Junction To The Route U.S. 19 Bridge
- Upper Gauley - Summersville Dam To Mason Branch
- Begins Below Summersville Lake To The Town Of Swiss
Track Shumate Creek 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 Shumate Creek Slurry Impoundment
Where does the data for Shumate Creek 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 Shumate Creek Slurry Impoundment.