Sands Hill Slurry Impoundment Dam
Sands Hill Slurry Impoundment Dam is a rockfill dam located in Vinton County, Ohio, built in 1992. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Sands Hill Slurry Impoundment Dam
The primary purpose of Sands Hill Slurry 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 Cheyenne Resources, Inc.. It impounds the Tributary To Sugar Run near Puritan.
The dam stands 131 feet tall and stretches 900 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,200 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1992, the structure is 34 years old.
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 131 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 Ohio 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 | Ohio |
| County | Vinton |
| Nearest City | Puritan |
| River/Stream | Tributary To Sugar Run |
| Coordinates | 39.14833, -82.47833 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 131 ft |
| Dam Height | 131 ft |
| Dam Length | 900 ft |
| Year Completed | 1992 (34 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,200 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,200 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Tailings |
| Owner | Cheyenne Resources, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Not Listed |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH02839 |
| Federal ID | OH02839 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |