South Fork No. 6 dam
South Fork No. 6
South Fork No. 6, located in Pendleton, West Virginia, is a key component in flood risk reduction efforts along the South Fork river. Constructed in 1963 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 105.5 feet, with a hydraulic height of 89.5 feet. The dam has a storage capacity of 1409 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 93 feet.
With a spillway type classified as "Uncontrolled" and a hazard potential rated as "High," South Fork No. 6 is closely regulated by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection. Despite its fair condition assessment in 2015, the dam remains a crucial structure for managing floods in the area, with a maximum discharge capacity of 11,835 cubic feet per second. The dam also serves as a habitat for various wildlife species in the region due to its surface area of 38.2 acres.
In the event of an emergency, the dam has an established Emergency Action Plan (EAP) to guide response efforts. With a risk assessment rating of "Moderate (3)," ongoing risk management measures are necessary to ensure the continued safety and integrity of South Fork No. 6. This dam stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of changing climate patterns and increasing flood risks.
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 South Fork No. 6 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| So Fk So Br Potomac R At Brandywine | 10 cfs | → |
| So. Branch Potomac River Nr Petersburg | 182 cfs | → |
| N F South Br Potomac R At Cabins | 66 cfs | → |
| South Branch Potomac River At Franklin | 33 cfs | → |
| N F Shenandoah River At Cootes Store | 129 cfs | → |
| So Fk South Branch Potomac R Nr Moorefield | 36 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near South Fork No. 6.
Campgrounds
- Camp Run Campground
- Jess Judy Group Campground
- Brandywine Campground
- Brandywine Recreation Area
- Princess Snowbird Campground
- Seneca Shadows Campground
Fishing spots
- Tomahawk Pond Day Use Area
- Briery Branch Day Use Area
- Dry Fork
- Staunton Dam Day Use Area
- Elkhorn Lake Day Use Area
- White Sulphur Pond
Paddle runs
- Big Bend Campground To Canyon Exit (Just Prior To Confluence With North Branch)
- Canyon Exit To Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks Nra Boundary
- Shreve Store To Big Bend Campground
- Jake Hill Road Bridge To Shreve Store
- High Ridge Run To Outskirts Of Hopeville
- Whites Run To National Recreation Area Boundary Near Us 33
Track South Fork No. 6 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 South Fork No. 6
Where does the data for South Fork No. 6 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 South Fork No. 6.