Bear Branch Slurry Impoundment
Bear Branch Slurry Impoundment is an earth dam located in Lawrence County, Kentucky. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Bear Branch Slurry Impoundment
The primary purpose of Bear Branch Slurry Impoundment 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 Beech Fork Processing Inc. (private).
The dam stands 258 feet tall and stretches 970 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 2,169 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 258 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 | Lawrence |
| Nearest City | Peach Orchard |
| Coordinates | 37.95333, -82.58889 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 258 ft |
| Dam Height | 258 ft |
| Dam Length | 970 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,169 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,169 acre-ft |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Tailings |
| Owner | Beech Fork Processing Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY83567 |
| Federal ID | KY83567 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |