Sherwood Lake dam
Sherwood Lake
Sherwood Lake in Greenbrier, West Virginia, is a federal-owned reservoir managed by the USDA Forest Service for recreational purposes, specifically for fishing and wildlife activities. The dam, completed in 1957, is an earth-type structure standing at 33 feet high and stretching 1160 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 2142 acre-feet and a surface area of 165 acres, Sherwood Lake is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts seeking water-based activities.
Although the dam has a high hazard potential, its condition assessment has not been rated, and the last inspection took place in November 2019. The spillway, which is uncontrolled, has a width of 12 feet, and the maximum discharge capacity is 5000 cubic feet per second. Despite the moderate risk level assigned to Sherwood Lake, no specific risk management measures have been detailed in the available data. Overall, Sherwood Lake offers a picturesque setting for water resource and climate enthusiasts to enjoy outdoor recreation in the heart of West Virginia's natural beauty.
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 Sherwood Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Jackson River Bl Gathright Dam Nr Hot Spgs | 230 cfs | → |
| Jackson River Near Bacova | 95 cfs | → |
| Back Creek Near Mountain Grove | 578 cfs | → |
| Dunlap Creek Near Covington | 37 cfs | → |
| Greenbrier River At Buckeye | 547 cfs | → |
| Jackson River Bl Dunlap Creek At Covington | 326 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sherwood Lake.
Boat launches
- Lake Sherwood Road Greenbrier County
- Jackson River Canoe Access Points
- Douthat State Park Road Bath County
- Walton Tract Canoe Access Point
- Walter Robinson Canoe Access Point
- Botetourt Road Botetourt County
Campgrounds
- West Shore - Lake Sherwood
- Lake Sherwood Campground
- Lake Sherwood Ranger's Station
- Lake Sherwood Recreation Area And Campground
- Pine Run - Lake Sherwood
- Meadow Creek - Lake Sherwood
Fishing spots
- Braley Pond Day Use Area
- Elkhorn Lake Day Use Area
- Staunton Dam Day Use Area
- Cherokee Flats Day Use Area
- Briery Branch Day Use Area
Paddle runs
- Segment A--State Route 39 At Blowing Springs Campground To Lake Moomaw
- Segment D--Gathright Dam To State Route 687 Bridge At Clearwater Park
- Segment C--Southern Boundary Hidden Valley Tract To Mcclintic Bridge
- Segment B--Confluence With Bullpasture River To Route 42 Bridge
- Segment B--Pump Storage Lake To Blowing Springs Campground
- Segment B--Northern Boundary, Hidden Valley Tract To Southern Boundary Of Hidden Valley Tract
Track Sherwood Lake 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 Sherwood Lake
Where does the data for Sherwood Lake 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 Sherwood Lake.