Ward Impoundment (Upper) Dam dam
Ward Impoundment (Upper) Dam
The Ward Impoundment (Upper) Dam, also known as Upper Dike - Union Carbide, is a privately owned structure located in Kanawha, West Virginia. This earth-type dam was completed in 1965 and serves primarily as a tailings dam, with a height of 139 feet and a storage capacity of 3,500 acre-feet. Situated on Ward Creek, this dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region, with a normal storage capacity of 3,100 acre-feet and a surface area of 43.6 acres.
With a high hazard potential, the Ward Impoundment (Upper) Dam is regulated and inspected by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, ensuring its structural integrity and safe operation. Despite its satisfactory condition assessment as of 2012, the dam undergoes regular inspections every two years to monitor its performance and address any potential risks. Emergency action plans are in place, with the last revision in 2017, to ensure swift response in case of any unforeseen events.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate the critical role that the Ward Impoundment (Upper) Dam plays in managing water flow and storage in the area. Its strategic location on Ward Creek and its significant storage capacity make it an essential piece of infrastructure in the region, highlighting the importance of proper maintenance and monitoring to ensure its continued safety and functionality in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Ward Impoundment (Upper) Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kanawha River At Charleston | 6,480 cfs | → |
| Coal River At Tornado | 416 cfs | → |
| Big Coal River At Ashford | 155 cfs | → |
| Pocatalico River At Sissonville | 508 cfs | → |
| Hurricane Creek At Hurricane | 120 cfs | → |
| Elk River At Queen Shoals | 1,230 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ward Impoundment (Upper) Dam.
Boat launches
Paddle runs
- The Route U.S. 19 Bridge To The Confluence With The Gauley River
- Begins Below Summersville Lake To The Town Of Swiss
- Upper Gauley - Summersville Dam To Mason Branch
- The Cora Brown Bridge In Nicholas County To The Confluence With The Elk River In Braxton County
- Meadow Creek Junction To The Route U.S. 19 Bridge
Track Ward Impoundment (Upper) Dam 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 Ward Impoundment (Upper) Dam
Where does the data for Ward Impoundment (Upper) Dam 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 Ward Impoundment (Upper) Dam.