The Summit - Dam A1 dam
The Summit - Dam A1
The Summit - Dam A1, located in Fayette, West Virginia, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 2013 for recreational purposes along the Barren Branch river. Standing at 40 feet tall and spanning 872.5 feet in length, this dam provides a storage capacity of 939 acre-feet with a normal storage level of 358.4 acre-feet. Despite its high hazard potential, recent inspections have deemed the dam to be in satisfactory condition, ensuring its safety for both visitors and the surrounding environment.
Managed by the West Virginia Division of Water and Waste Management, Dam A1 is subject to state regulations and inspections, guaranteeing its compliance with safety standards. The dam's location in Thurmond, amidst a pristine natural setting, offers a tranquil escape for water resource and climate enthusiasts seeking recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and wildlife observation. With its low spillway width and absence of locks, visitors can enjoy the serenity of the dam's surroundings while appreciating the vital role it plays in water resource management.
As a key part of the water infrastructure in the region, The Summit - Dam A1 serves as a symbol of responsible water resource development and conservation. Its completion in 2013 marked a milestone in enhancing recreational opportunities while balancing the need for water storage and management. With ongoing inspections and a satisfactory condition assessment, this dam stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water resource practices in promoting both environmental protection and public enjoyment.
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 The Summit - Dam A1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| New River At Thurmond | 8,940 cfs | → |
| Piney Creek At Raleigh | 23 cfs | → |
| Kanawha River At Kanawha Falls | 7,040 cfs | → |
| Meadow River At Nallen | 606 cfs | → |
| Clear Fork At Whitesville | 24 cfs | → |
| Gauley River Above Belva | 2,600 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near The Summit - Dam A1.
Boat launches
- Stone Cliff Trail Fayette County
- Johnstown Road Raleigh County
- State Route 41 Fayette County
- Fayette Station Road Fayetteville
- Raleigh County
- Clayton-Judson Road Summers County
Campgrounds
- Summit Bechtel Reserve
- Army Camp
- Primitive Camping
- Chestnut Creek Campground
- Babcock State Park
- Ray's Campground
Paddle runs
- The Route U.S. 19 Bridge To The Confluence With The Gauley River
- Meadow Creek Junction To The Route U.S. 19 Bridge
- Bluestone Dam To Sandstone
- Bluestone Dam To Gauley Bridge
- Upper Gauley - Summersville Dam To Mason Branch
- Begins Below Summersville Lake To The Town Of Swiss
Track The Summit - Dam A1 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 The Summit - Dam A1
Where does the data for The Summit - Dam A1 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 The Summit - Dam A1.