Fly Ash Settling Basin Dam
Fly Ash Settling Basin Dam is a rockfill dam located in Kanawha County, West Virginia, built in 1974. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Fly Ash Settling Basin Dam
The primary purpose of Fly Ash Settling Basin 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 Fmc Corporation (private). It impounds the Davis Creek near So. Charleston.
The dam stands 28 feet tall and stretches 2,450 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 38 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 620 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 72 square miles. Completed in 1974, 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 10/31/2024.
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 | Davis Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.36111, -81.71194 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,450 ft |
| Year Completed | 1974 (52 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 620 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 620 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 580 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 38 acres |
| Drainage Area | 72 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,100 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Tailings |
| Owner | FMC CORPORATION |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/31/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WV03921 |
| Federal ID | WV03921 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |