Vinson Impound # 1 Dam
Vinson Impound # 1 Dam is an earth dam located in Wilkinson County, Georgia, built in 1985. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Vinson Impound # 1 Dam
The primary purpose of Vinson Impound # 1 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 Basf Corp (private). It impounds the Unknown.
The dam stands 44 feet tall and stretches 6,030 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 1,029 acre-feet. Completed in 1985, the structure is 41 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 03/08/2017. That was 9 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
At 44 feet, this dam is taller than 90% of dams nationwide.
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 Georgia 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 | Georgia |
| County | Wilkinson |
| River/Stream | Unknown |
| Coordinates | 32.85194, -83.21583 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Length | 6,030 ft |
| Year Completed | 1985 (41 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,029 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,029 acre-ft |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Tailings |
| Owner | BASF Corp |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 03/08/2017 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | GA04604 |
| Federal ID | GA04604 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |