Browns Run Impoundment dam
Browns Run Impoundment
Browns Run Impoundment, located in Benwood, West Virginia, is a privately owned earth dam primarily used for tailings storage. With a dam height of 246 feet and a length of 800 feet, this impoundment has a storage capacity of 2,880 acre-feet. Despite being classified as a high hazard potential structure, its condition assessment is currently marked as "Not Available." The Mine Safety and Health Administration oversees the regulatory aspects and inspections of this impoundment.
Due to its size and purpose, Browns Run Impoundment plays a crucial role in managing tailings and waste materials in the region. While the specific year of completion is not provided, this structure serves as a key component in the local water resource infrastructure. With its strategic location in Marshall County and its high hazard potential designation, it underscores the importance of regular monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety of nearby communities and the environment.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts track developments in dam safety and environmental stewardship, Browns Run Impoundment stands out as a significant structure in West Virginia's landscape. Its design, purpose, and ownership highlight the complex interplay between industrial needs, regulatory oversight, and public safety concerns. With ongoing assessments and potential risk management measures, this impoundment serves as a focal point for discussions on sustainable water resource management and the intersection of industry and environmental protection.
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 Browns Run Impoundment -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wheeling Creek At Elm Grove | 192 cfs | → |
| Wheeling Creek Below Blaine Oh | 83 cfs | → |
| Short Creek Near Dillonvale Oh | 104 cfs | → |
| Captina Cr. At S.R. 148 At Armstrongs Mills | 70 cfs | → |
| Ohio River Above Sardis | 27,800 cfs | → |
| Boggs Fork At Piedmont Oh | 129 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Browns Run Impoundment.
Boat launches
- 13th Street 107, Moundsville
- Powhatan Point Boat Launch
- Dutch Fork Lake (West Side)
- Barkcamp State Park
- Clarington Village Ramp
- Kirkwood Ramp
Track Browns Run 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 Browns Run Impoundment
Where does the data for Browns Run 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 Browns Run Impoundment.