Harmon Branch Refuse Disposal Facility dam
Harmon Branch Refuse Disposal Facility
The Harmon Branch Refuse Disposal Facility in Jenkinjones, West Virginia, is a private tailings dam with a height of 294 feet and a length of 695 feet. The dam has a storage capacity of 576 acre-feet and is primarily used for tailings disposal. Despite not being regulated by the state, the facility is overseen by the Mine Safety and Health Administration, with high hazard potential due to its size and location.
The dam, classified as an earth dam, poses a significant risk in the event of a failure, although its current condition assessment is not available. Emergency action plans and risk management measures are also not specified for the facility. The area is represented by Congresswoman Carol Miller, and the dam is not under the jurisdiction of any state regulatory agency. Water resource and climate enthusiasts may find the Harmon Branch Refuse Disposal Facility an intriguing case study for understanding the challenges and risks associated with private tailings dams in less regulated regions like McDowell County, West Virginia.
With its high hazard potential and lack of state oversight, the Harmon Branch Refuse Disposal Facility serves as a reminder of the importance of proper monitoring and maintenance of such structures. The facility's location in a region with a history of mining activities highlights the potential environmental impact of tailings disposal and the need for comprehensive risk assessment and emergency preparedness measures. As water resources and climate change continue to be critical issues, understanding the implications of facilities like Harmon Branch is crucial for ensuring the safety and sustainability of our water infrastructure.
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 Harmon Branch Refuse Disposal Facility -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bluestone River At Falls Mills | 23 cfs | → |
| Tug Fork At Welch | 91 cfs | → |
| Dry Fork At Beartown | 68 cfs | → |
| Guyandotte River Near Baileysville | 170 cfs | → |
| Panther Creek Near Panther | 5 cfs | → |
| Clear Fork At Clear Fork | 36 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Harmon Branch Refuse Disposal Facility.
Campgrounds
- Laurel Creek Campsite
- Mash Fork - Camp Creek State Park
- Blue Jay - Camp Creek State Park
- Stony Fork Campground
- Stony Fork
- Stony Fork Cabin
Paddle runs
- The U.S. Route 460 Bridge In Glen Lyn, Virginia To The Maximum Summer Pool Elevation Of Bluestone Lake, South Of Hinton, West Virginia
- Bluestone Dam To Gauley Bridge
- Bluestone Dam To Sandstone
- Whitetop Laurel--Jefferson Nf Boundary (Intersection Of Hwy 58 And Sr 859) To Jefferson Nf Boundary Above Damascus
- Green Cove--Jefferson Nf Near Confluence Of Star Hill Branch To Confluence With Whitetop Laurel
- Jefferson Nf Boundary (Above Cascades Fall) To Jefferson Nf Boundary (Below Cascades Fall)
Track Harmon Branch Refuse Disposal Facility 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 Harmon Branch Refuse Disposal Facility
Where does the data for Harmon Branch Refuse Disposal Facility 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 Harmon Branch Refuse Disposal Facility.