Nichols N-4
Nichols N-4 is an earth dam located in Polk County, Florida, built in 1978. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
About Nichols N-4
The primary purpose of Nichols N-4 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 The Mosaic Company (private). It impounds the Alafia River near Nichols.
The dam stands 60 feet tall and stretches 11,880 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 500 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 30,000 acre-feet. Completed in 1978, the structure is 48 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life.
At 60 feet, this dam is taller than 95% of all dams in the United States.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Florida |
| County | Polk |
| Nearest City | Nichols |
| River/Stream | Alafia River |
| Coordinates | 27.84000, -82.02000 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 60 ft |
| Dam Height | 60 ft |
| Dam Length | 11,880 ft |
| Year Completed | 1978 (48 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 30,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 30,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 10,300 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 500 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Tailings |
| Owner | THE MOSAIC COMPANY |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | FL00576 |
| Federal ID | FL00576 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |