John Amos Flyash Dam is a rockfill dam located in Putnam County, West Virginia, built in 1978. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 223 ft223 ft tall and 1,977 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 John Amos Flyash Dam
The primary purpose of John Amos Flyash 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 Appalachian Power Company (public utility). It impounds the Lil Scary Creek near Nitro.
The dam stands 223 feet tall and stretches 1,977 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 180 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 11,160 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1978, the structure is 48 years old.
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 10/30/2025.
At 223 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 West Virginia 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 | West Virginia |
| County | Putnam |
| Nearest City | Nitro |
| River/Stream | Lil Scary Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.45778, -81.85056 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 223 ft |
| Dam Height | 223 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,977 ft |
| Year Completed | 1978 (48 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 11,160 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 11,160 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 10,041 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 180 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Tailings |
| Owner | Appalachian Power Company |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/30/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WV07911 |
| Federal ID | WV07911 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |