Wheeling Creek #3 dam
Wheeling Creek #3
Wheeling Creek #3, located in Viola, West Virginia, is a rockfill dam completed in 1995 by the USDA NRCS. With a height of 85 feet and a length of 1007 feet, this flood risk reduction structure plays a crucial role in managing water resources in Marshall County. The dam has a storage capacity of 18,993 acre-feet and serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction for the surrounding area.
Maintained by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, Wheeling Creek #3 has a high hazard potential but is currently in satisfactory condition, according to a 2013 assessment. The dam has a moderate risk rating and is subject to regular inspections to ensure its safety and functionality. With a drainage area of 76.48 square miles, this structure plays a vital role in protecting the local community from flooding events, showcasing the importance of effective water resource management in the region.
Overall, Wheeling Creek #3 serves as a critical infrastructure for flood control and water resource management in West Virginia. With its strategic location and design, this rockfill dam continues to play a significant role in mitigating flood risks and protecting the surrounding area. As climate change brings more extreme weather events, structures like Wheeling Creek #3 become increasingly essential for ensuring the resilience of communities 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 Wheeling Creek #3 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wheeling Creek At Elm Grove | 192 cfs | → |
| Wheeling Creek Below Blaine Oh | 83 cfs | → |
| Short Creek Near Dillonvale Oh | 104 cfs | → |
| Captina Cr. At S.R. 148 At Armstrongs Mills | 70 cfs | → |
| South Fork Tenmile Creek At Jefferson | 57 cfs | → |
| Ohio River Above Sardis | 27,800 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wheeling Creek #3.
Boat launches
- 13th Street 107, Moundsville
- Dutch Fork Lake (West Side)
- Powhatan Point Boat Launch
- Clarington Village Ramp
- Barkcamp State Park
- Rice's Landing
Track Wheeling Creek #3 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 Wheeling Creek #3
Where does the data for Wheeling Creek #3 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 Wheeling Creek #3.