Patterson Creek No.45 dam
Patterson Creek No.45
Patterson Creek No.45, also known as Grave Yard Run, is a local government-owned earth dam located in Fort Ashby, West Virginia. Designed by the USDA NRCS and completed in 1969, this dam plays a crucial role in flood risk reduction in the area. With a height of 42 feet and a hydraulic height of 36 feet, it serves as a key structure for managing water flow in the Grave Yard Run.
The dam has a storage capacity of 162 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 3 acres, with a drainage area of 0.56 square miles. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment in 2014 was deemed satisfactory. While the dam features uncontrolled spillways and outlet gates, it is regularly inspected every two years to ensure its continued safety and effectiveness in flood risk reduction.
With its critical role in protecting the local community from potential flooding events, Patterson Creek No.45 stands as a testament to the importance of well-maintained water resource infrastructure in mitigating the impacts of climate change. Its presence highlights the collaborative efforts between local government and federal agencies to safeguard the environment and enhance resilience in the face of evolving weather 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 Patterson Creek No.45 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Patterson Creek Near Headsville | 22 cfs | → |
| South Branch Potomac River Near Springfield | 241 cfs | → |
| North Branch Potomac River Near Cumberland | 420 cfs | → |
| Wills Creek Near Cumberland | 72 cfs | → |
| Town Creek Near Oldtown | 27 cfs | → |
| Georges Creek At Franklin | 20 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Patterson Creek No.45.
Boat launches
- Chesapeake And Ohio Canal Trail Allegany County
- Springfield Pike Hampshire County
- Gordon Lake Boat Access
- Mount Zion Road Garrett County
- Bonds Landing Road Allegany County
- Koon Lake Boat Access
Campgrounds
- Spring Gap - C And O Canal National Park
- Spring Gap Campsite
- Spring Gap
- Irons Mountain Hiker Biker Campsite
- Iron Mountain Campsite
- Pigmans Ferry Campsite
Fishing spots
- North Branch Potomac River
- Battie Mixon Ponds
- Dans Mountain Pond
- Evitts Creek Ponds
- Georges Creek
- Wills Creek
Paddle runs
- Begins South Of Largent To The Confluence With The Potomac At Great Cacapon
- Capon Bridge To Ends Just South Of Largent
- Begins Where The Lost River Becomes The Cacapon River To Wardensville
- The West Virginia 259 Bridge South Of Wardensville To Ends Where The Lost River Becomes The Cacapon River
- Wardensville To The Town Of Capon Bridge
- Begins As River Passes Under The Herrington Manor Road Bridge At Oakland, Maryland To The Corporate Boundary Of Friendsville, Maryland
Track Patterson Creek No.45 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 Patterson Creek No.45
Where does the data for Patterson Creek No.45 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 Patterson Creek No.45.