Ward Impoundment (upper) Dam
Ward Impoundment (upper) Dam is an earth dam located in Kanawha County, West Virginia, built in 1965. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Ward Impoundment (upper) Dam
The primary purpose of Ward Impoundment (upper) 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 Union Carbide Corporation-sc (private). It impounds the Ward Creek near So. Charleston.
The dam stands 139 feet tall and stretches 1,750 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 43 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 266 square miles. Completed in 1965, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 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. 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 08/31/2025.
At 139 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 West Virginia 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 | West Virginia |
| County | Kanawha |
| Nearest City | So. Charleston |
| River/Stream | Ward Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.35194, -81.69944 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 139 ft |
| Dam Height | 139 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,750 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,100 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 43 acres |
| Drainage Area | 266 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Tailings |
| Owner | UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION-SC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/31/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WV03903 |
| Federal ID | WV03903 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |