Big Groundhog Slurry Impoundment
Big Groundhog Slurry Impoundment is an earth dam located in Pike County, Kentucky. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Big Groundhog Slurry Impoundment
The primary purpose of Big Groundhog Slurry Impoundment 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 Mccoy Elkhorn Coal Corp. (private).
The dam stands 412 feet tall and stretches 1,900 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 10,763 acre-feet.
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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam.
At 412 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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 Kentucky 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 | Kentucky |
| County | Pike |
| Nearest City | Blackburn Bottom |
| Coordinates | 37.54417, -82.41583 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 412 ft |
| Dam Height | 412 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,900 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 10,763 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 10,763 acre-ft |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Tailings |
| Owner | McCoy Elkhorn Coal Corp. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY83459 |
| Federal ID | KY83459 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |