Brushy Fork No. 7 Dam

About Brushy Fork No. 7 Dam

The primary purpose of Brushy Fork No. 7 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 John Anderson (private). It impounds the Tributary To Brushy Fork near Tippecanoe.

The dam stands 47 feet tall and stretches 450 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 226 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1950, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.

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. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 05/14/2025.

At 47 feet, this dam is taller than 92% of dams nationwide.

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