Cardinal Fly Ash No. 2 Dam is an earth dam located in Jefferson County, Ohio, built in 2014. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 250 ft250 ft tall and 1,630 ft long, taller than 99% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against the Statue of Liberty, 305 ft ground to torch; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Cardinal Fly Ash No. 2 Dam
The primary purpose of Cardinal Fly Ash No. 2 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 Cardinal Operating Company (public utility). It impounds the Blockhouse Run near Brilliant.
The dam stands 250 feet tall and stretches 1,630 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 161 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 13,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 2014, the structure is relatively new.
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 11/07/2022.
At 250 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 Ohio 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 | Ohio |
| County | Jefferson |
| Nearest City | Brilliant |
| River/Stream | Blockhouse Run |
| Coordinates | 40.26444, -80.64694 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 250 ft |
| Dam Height | 250 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,630 ft |
| Year Completed | 2014 (12 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 13,500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 13,500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 11,400 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 161 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5,409 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Tailings |
| Owner | Cardinal Operating Company |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/07/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH01826 |
| Federal ID | OH01826 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |