Anawalt Lake Dam

MILLSEAT BRANCH· McDowell, West Virginia· Earth· 34 ft tall
High Hazard Recreation State Government

Key Takeaway

Anawalt Lake Dam is classified as high hazard in West Virginia. Its primary use is recreation. High hazard means loss of life is likely if the dam fails — it does not indicate the dam's current condition. Learn more.

Physical Details

Dam Height 34 ft (taller than 33.3% in WV)
Dam Length1,820 ft
Dam TypeEarth
Max Storage117 acre-ft
Normal Storage87 acre-ft
Max Discharge2,558 cfs
NID IDWV04727

Safety Information

High Hazard

Loss of human life is likely if the dam fails.

Hazard potential describes downstream consequences of failure, not the dam's current condition. What does this mean?

Emergency Action Plan: Yes
Last Inspection: August 22, 2017
State Regulated: Yes
Regulatory Agency: DWWM

Ownership

WVDNR, WILDLIFE RESOURCES

State Government

Nearby Dams

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hazard classification of Anawalt Lake Dam?

Anawalt Lake Dam is classified as High Hazard. Loss of human life is likely if the dam fails. This classification refers to the potential downstream consequences of a failure, not the dam's current structural condition.

Who owns and operates Anawalt Lake Dam?

Anawalt Lake Dam is owned by WVDNR, WILDLIFE RESOURCES (State Government). The owner is responsible for maintenance, inspections, and compliance with dam safety regulations.

What is the primary purpose of Anawalt Lake Dam?

Anawalt Lake Dam serves the following purposes: Recreation. Many dams in the U.S. are multi-purpose, supporting flood control, water supply, recreation, and other uses.

How tall is Anawalt Lake Dam?

Anawalt Lake Dam has a dam height of 34 ft. Dam height is measured from the natural streambed at the downstream toe to the top of the dam, and may differ from the visible height.

When was Anawalt Lake Dam last inspected?

Anawalt Lake Dam was last inspected on August 22, 2017. Inspection dates indicate when a formal review occurred, not the results of that inspection.

Data from the National Inventory of Dams (NID) maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Dam conditions may have changed since the last update. This site is not affiliated with USACE. Do not use for emergency planning — contact your local dam safety program.