Ragland Slurry Impoundment dam
Ragland Slurry Impoundment
The Ragland Slurry Impoundment in Ragland, West Virginia, is a private earth dam structure primarily used for tailings storage. With a height of 370 feet and a storage capacity of 5300 acre-feet, this impoundment poses a high hazard potential. Despite not being state-regulated or inspected, the Mine Safety and Health Administration oversees its regulatory and inspection activities.
Located in Mingo County, the Ragland Slurry Impoundment is a critical infrastructure for managing tailings in the region. While details on its condition assessment and emergency preparedness are not available, its significant height and storage capacity highlight the importance of monitoring and maintenance to ensure its safety and integrity. Climate and water resource enthusiasts may find the operational and regulatory aspects of this structure intriguing in the context of environmental sustainability and risk management.
As a key component of the mining operations in the area, the Ragland Slurry Impoundment plays a crucial role in managing waste materials effectively. Its design and construction, overseen by private entities, reflect the intricate balance between industrial needs and environmental considerations. With its high hazard potential and lack of state regulation, ongoing monitoring and evaluation are essential to mitigate any potential risks and safeguard the surrounding communities and ecosystems.
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 Ragland Slurry Impoundment -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Tug Fork At Williamson | 359 cfs | → |
| Guyandotte River At Man | 968 cfs | → |
| Guyandotte River At Logan | 271 cfs | → |
| Panther Creek Near Panther | 5 cfs | → |
| Tug Fork At Kermit | 390 cfs | → |
| Clear Fork At Clear Fork | 44 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ragland Slurry Impoundment.
Campgrounds
- Hatfield’S Hideout Riverfront Cabins And Campground
- Chief Logan State Park
- Panther Wma
- Guyandotte
- Panther State Forest
- Grapevine - Fishtrap Lake
Track Ragland 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 Ragland Slurry Impoundment
Where does the data for Ragland 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 Ragland Slurry Impoundment.