It is located 18 mi (29 km) northwest of Beckley, the seat of Raleigh County.

The purpose of the dam is to store a sludge consisting of tailings and waste from a nearby coal mine.

Over the years additional permits to increase the size and storage volume of the dam have been issued in the midst of local and regional opposition to its structural integrity.

Currently at approximately 900 ft (270 m) in height, it is the tallest dam in the Western Hemisphere.

Wasted rock from the coal mining process is used as the dam filler.