Unimin Dam #5
Unimin Dam #5 is an earth dam located in Richmond County, North Carolina, built in 1990. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Unimin Dam #5
The primary purpose of Unimin Dam #5 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 Covia Solutions, Inc. (private). It impounds the Clay Branch.
The dam stands 30 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 32 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 384 acre-feet. Completed in 1990, the structure is 36 years old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 03/31/2017.
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Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Richmond |
| River/Stream | Clay Branch |
| Coordinates | 34.95410, -79.59710 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 30 ft |
| Year Completed | 1990 (36 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 384 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 384 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 345 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 32 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Tailings |
| Owner | Covia Solutions, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 03/31/2017 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC05219 |
| Federal ID | NC05219 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |