Ward Impoundment (lower) Dam is a rockfill dam located in Kanawha County, West Virginia. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 152 ft152 ft tall and 770 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 rockfill embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Ward Impoundment (lower) Dam
The primary purpose of Ward Impoundment (lower) 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 Union Carbide Corporation (private). It impounds the Kanawha River near South Charleston.
The dam stands 152 feet tall and stretches 770 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 7 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,050 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 327 square miles.
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 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 08/31/2025.
At 152 feet, this dam is taller than 99% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Kanawha |
| Nearest City | South Charleston |
| River/Stream | Kanawha River |
| Coordinates | 38.35500, -81.70056 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 152 ft |
| Dam Height | 152 ft |
| Dam Length | 770 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,050 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,050 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,050 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 7 acres |
| Drainage Area | 327 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Tailings |
| Owner | Union Carbide Corporation |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/31/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WV03931 |
| Federal ID | WV03931 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |