Moccasin Hollow Impoundment dam
Moccasin Hollow Impoundment
Moccasin Hollow Impoundment is a privately owned dam in Boone, West Virginia, completed in 1999 for the primary purpose of storing tailings. With a height of 310 feet and a length of 820 feet, this dam has a maximum storage capacity of 2452 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 39 acres. The impoundment is located on the Moccasin Hollow river and falls under the jurisdiction of the Mine Safety and Health Administration for regulation and inspections.
Despite not being state-regulated, Moccasin Hollow Impoundment poses a high hazard potential due to its size and location. The condition of the dam is currently not rated, and there is no Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place. The dam has not been assessed for risk management measures, and there are no inundation maps prepared for potential emergencies. The surrounding area is at risk of flooding and residents should be aware of the potential dangers associated with this impoundment.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Moccasin Hollow Impoundment presents an interesting case study in dam safety and management. The lack of state regulation and monitoring raises concerns about the potential risks posed by the dam, especially in the event of an emergency. As efforts to enhance dam safety and preparedness continue to evolve, the impoundment serves as a reminder of the importance of proper maintenance and oversight in safeguarding water resources and communities from potential hazards.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Moccasin Hollow Impoundment -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Clear Fork At Whitesville | 24 cfs | → |
| Big Coal River At Ashford | 155 cfs | → |
| Kanawha River At Kanawha Falls | 7,040 cfs | → |
| Gauley River Above Belva | 2,600 cfs | → |
| New River At Thurmond | 8,940 cfs | → |
| Kanawha River At Charleston | 6,480 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Moccasin Hollow Impoundment.
Boat launches
- Fayette Station Road Fayetteville
- Stone Cliff Trail Fayette County
- Johnstown Road Raleigh County
- Charles Avenue Dunbar
- State Route 41 Fayette County
- Maccorkle Avenue St. Albans
Campgrounds
- Ivy Branch Atv Restort
- Chestnut Creek Campground
- Summit Bechtel Reserve
- Army Camp
- Ray's Campground
- Gauley River Wild & Woolly Primitive Campground
Paddle runs
- The Route U.S. 19 Bridge To The Confluence With The Gauley River
- Upper Gauley - Summersville Dam To Mason Branch
- Begins Below Summersville Lake To The Town Of Swiss
- Meadow Creek Junction To The Route U.S. 19 Bridge
- Bluestone Dam To Sandstone
- Bluestone Dam To Gauley Bridge
Track Moccasin Hollow Impoundment in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Moccasin Hollow Impoundment
Where does the data for Moccasin Hollow Impoundment come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Moccasin Hollow Impoundment.