Four Mile Branch Slurry Dam
Four Mile Branch Slurry Dam is an earth dam located in Knott County, Kentucky. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Four Mile Branch Slurry Dam
The primary purpose of Four Mile Branch Slurry 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 Kentucky Fuel Corporation (private).
The dam stands 350 feet tall and stretches 1,280 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 8,416 acre-feet.
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.
At 350 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 Kentucky 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 | Kentucky |
| County | Knott |
| Nearest City | Betty |
| Coordinates | 37.42889, -82.88750 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 350 ft |
| Dam Height | 350 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,280 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 8,416 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 8,416 acre-ft |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Tailings |
| Owner | Kentucky Fuel Corporation |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY83522 |
| Federal ID | KY83522 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |