A method begins by a processing module of a storage network analyzing storage network memory for a level of usability and based on the analyzing, selecting alternative memory available for receipt of encoded data slices stored in current memory, where a data object is segmented into a plurality of data segments and a data segment of the plurality of data segments is dispersed error encoded in accordance with dispersed error encoding parameters to produce a set of encoded data slices. The method continues with the processing module determining whether to move encoded data slices from current memory to alternative memory and based on a determination to move slices, allocating alternative memory. Finally, the processing module moves at least some encoded data slices from a current memory to alternate memory and updates a memory assignment mechanism for the at least some encoded data slices.