Polk Creek No.13 dam
Polk Creek No.13
Polk Creek No.13, also known as Sassafras Run or Sugarloaf Dam, is a vital water resource structure located in Lewis, West Virginia. Constructed in 1967 by the USDA NRCS, this Earth dam stands at a height of 46 feet and serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction along the Sassafras Run stream. With a storage capacity of 1356.9 acre-feet and a normal storage of 43.3 acre-feet, this dam covers a surface area of 79 acres and has a drainage area of 2.63 square miles.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the West Virginia Division of Water and Waste Management (DWWM), Polk Creek No.13 undergoes regular inspections with a hazard potential rated as high and a condition assessment deemed fair. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with a maximum discharge capacity of 11353 cubic feet per second. Despite its moderate risk assessment, Polk Creek No.13 plays a crucial role in mitigating flooding risks in the region and highlights the importance of proper water resource management in the face of changing climate patterns.
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 Polk Creek No.13 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| West Fork R Bl Stonewall Jackson Dam Nr Weston | 31 cfs | → |
| W.F. River At Butcherville | 79 cfs | → |
| West Fork River Near Mount Clare | 271 cfs | → |
| L Kanawha River Nr Wildcat | 39 cfs | → |
| Sand Run Near Buckhannon | 8 cfs | → |
| Buckhannon River At Hall | 171 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Polk Creek No.13.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Stonewall Jackson State Park
- Riffle Run
- Riffle Run Campground
- Bulltown
- Cedar Creek State Park
- Flatwoods Koa
Paddle runs
- The Cora Brown Bridge In Nicholas County To The Confluence With The Elk River In Braxton County
- The Junction With Williams River To The Junction With Panther Creek
- Route 33/8 To Jobs Run Near Porterwood
- Us 250 To Mcgee Run
- Three Forks To Spice Run
- Mcgee Run To .5 Mile Above Route 22
Track Polk Creek No.13 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 Polk Creek No.13
Where does the data for Polk Creek No.13 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 Polk Creek No.13.