Lick Branch Refuse Impoundment
Lick Branch Refuse Impoundment is an earth dam located in Pike County, Kentucky. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Lick Branch Refuse Impoundment
The primary purpose of Lick Branch Refuse 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 250 feet tall and stretches 930 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 5,337 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.
At 250 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 | 37.53972, -82.40972 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 250 ft |
| Dam Height | 250 ft |
| Dam Length | 930 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 5,337 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 5,337 acre-ft |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Tailings |
| Owner | McCoy Elkhorn Coal Corp. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY83563 |
| Federal ID | KY83563 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |