Ira Holliman Tailings Impoundment Dam
Ira Holliman Tailings Impoundment Dam is a dam located in Wilkinson County, Georgia, built in 2003. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Ira Holliman Tailings Impoundment Dam
The primary purpose of Ira Holliman Tailings Impoundment Dam is tailings. Tailings dams contain waste material from mining operations — typically a slurry of finely ground rock left over after valuable minerals have been extracted. These structures require ongoing monitoring because tailings can contain heavy metals and other contaminants. The dam is owned by Basf Corp (private).
The dam stands 87 feet tall and stretches 10,084 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 138 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,422 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 138 square miles. Completed in 2003, the structure is relatively new.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/08/2017. That was 9 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
At 87 feet, this dam is taller than 97% of all dams in the United States.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Georgia dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Georgia |
| County | Wilkinson |
| Coordinates | 32.86083, -83.24472 |
Physical Characteristics
| NID Height | 87 ft |
| Dam Height | 87 ft |
| Dam Length | 10,084 ft |
| Year Completed | 2003 (23 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,422 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,422 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,040 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 138 acres |
| Drainage Area | 138 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Tailings |
| Owner | BASF Corp |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 03/08/2017 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | GA07545 |
| Federal ID | GA07545 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |