Lotts Branch Slurry Impoundment dam
Lotts Branch Slurry Impoundment
Lotts Branch Slurry Impoundment, located in Prenter, West Virginia, is a private-owned earth dam primarily used for tailings storage. Standing at a height of 478 feet and with a storage capacity of 12,259 acre-feet, this impoundment poses a high hazard potential. Despite being under the jurisdiction of the Mine Safety and Health Administration, this structure is not regulated by the state and lacks state permitting, inspection, and enforcement.
This impoundment, nestled in Boone County, West Virginia, is a key feature in the Huntington District. With a lack of available data on its condition assessment and emergency action plan, concerns about its safety and management arise. The absence of information on modifications, inspections, and risk assessments further underscores the need for increased oversight and accountability to ensure the protection of water resources in the surrounding area.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Lotts Branch Slurry Impoundment serves as a focal point for understanding the intersection of industry, regulation, and environmental stewardship. As efforts continue to address the high hazard potential and lack of state oversight, the impoundment stands as a reminder of the importance of proactive monitoring and management of critical water infrastructure to safeguard against potential risks and ensure sustainable practices for future generations.
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 Lotts Branch Slurry Impoundment -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Clear Fork At Whitesville | 24 cfs | → |
| Big Coal River At Ashford | 155 cfs | → |
| Guyandotte River At Logan | 358 cfs | → |
| Guyandotte River At Man | 968 cfs | → |
| Kanawha River At Kanawha Falls | 7,040 cfs | → |
| Coal River At Tornado | 416 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lotts Branch Slurry Impoundment.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Paddle runs
- The Route U.S. 19 Bridge To The Confluence With The Gauley River
- Upper Gauley - Summersville Dam To Mason Branch
- Begins Below Summersville Lake To The Town Of Swiss
- Meadow Creek Junction To The Route U.S. 19 Bridge
- Bluestone Dam To Gauley Bridge
- Bluestone Dam To Sandstone
Track Lotts Branch 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 Lotts Branch Slurry Impoundment
Where does the data for Lotts Branch 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 Lotts Branch Slurry Impoundment.