Kyger Creek Tailings Pond dam
Kyger Creek Tailings Pond
Kyger Creek Tailings Pond, located in Gallia, Ohio, is a significant Earth dam completed in 1955 with a height of 32 feet and a length of 8150 feet. The primary purpose of this tailings pond is to store tailings, with a storage capacity of 3856 acre-feet. The pond covers a surface area of 123 acres and drains a small area of 0.2 square miles, discharging a maximum flow of 198 cubic feet per second into the Ohio River - offstream.
Managed by a public utility, Kyger Creek Tailings Pond is regulated by the Department of Natural Resources in Ohio. The dam has been assessed to be in fair condition as of the last inspection in October 2016, with a significant hazard potential. Despite its fair condition, the dam is inspected every 5 years to ensure its safety and integrity. The Emergency Action Plan (EAP) for the pond was last revised in October 2020, indicating a commitment to emergency preparedness and risk management.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Kyger Creek Tailings Pond represents a vital infrastructure for storing tailings in Ohio. With its strategic location near the Ohio River and its regulated status, the pond plays a crucial role in managing waste from mining operations in the region. By adhering to inspection and regulatory requirements, the owners and operators of the dam uphold safety standards and prioritize emergency preparedness to mitigate potential risks associated with the structure.
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 Kyger Creek Tailings Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Raccoon Creek At Adamsville Oh | 75 cfs | → |
| Shade River Near Chester Oh | 18 cfs | → |
| Little Raccoon Creek Near Ewington Oh | 18 cfs | → |
| Raccoon Creek Near Bolin Mills Oh | 47 cfs | → |
| Hocking River At Athens Oh | 263 cfs | → |
| Symmes Creek At Aid Oh | 27 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kyger Creek Tailings Pond.
Track Kyger Creek Tailings Pond 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 Kyger Creek Tailings Pond
Where does the data for Kyger Creek Tailings Pond 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 Significant 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 Kyger Creek Tailings Pond.