South Fork No.18 dam
South Fork No.18
South Fork No.18, located in Sugar Grove, West Virginia, is a local government-owned earth dam built in 1968 by USDA NRCS to reduce flood risk along Stony Run. Standing at 76 feet high with a hydraulic height of 68 feet, this dam has a storage capacity of 1,266 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 47 acres. Despite its fair condition assessment in 2015, South Fork No.18 poses a high hazard potential, prompting regular inspections every 2 years to ensure its structural integrity.
Managed by the Division of Water and Waste Management in West Virginia, this dam is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates. The primary purpose of South Fork No.18 is flood risk reduction, serving as a critical infrastructure in safeguarding the surrounding communities from potential inundation. With a moderate risk assessment rating, the dam's risk management measures and emergency action plan preparation status remain unspecified, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to mitigate any potential risks effectively.
While South Fork No.18 plays a crucial role in flood control and protection, its aging infrastructure and high hazard potential underscore the importance of continued oversight and maintenance. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is essential to recognize the significance of dams like South Fork No.18 in safeguarding communities and ecosystems against the impacts of extreme weather events and changing climate patterns. By staying informed and advocating for sustainable dam management practices, we can contribute to the resilience of our water resources and enhance our collective preparedness for future challenges.
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.18 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Branch Potomac River At Franklin | 33 cfs | → |
| So Fk So Br Potomac R At Brandywine | 10 cfs | → |
| North River Near Stokesville | 2 cfs | → |
| Muddy Creek At Mount Clinton | 1 cfs | → |
| North River Near Burketown | 105 cfs | → |
| Bullpasture River At Williamsville | 32 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near South Fork No.18.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Brandywine Recreation Area
- Brandywine Campground
- Hone Quarry Campground
- Todd Lake Recreation Area
- North River Campground
- Shaws Fork Equestrian Campground
Fishing spots
- Briery Branch Day Use Area
- Elkhorn Lake Day Use Area
- Staunton Dam Day Use Area
- Braley Pond Day Use Area
- Tomahawk Pond Day Use Area
- Dry Fork
Paddle runs
- North River Campground To Camp May Flather
- Trussel Run To Run North Of Judy Springs
- Run North Of Judy Springs To Private Land
- Canyon Exit To Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks Nra Boundary
- Ford Where Route 609 Departs From Route 678 To Confluence With Cowpasture River
- Private Land Above Falls Of Seneca To Whites Run
Track South Fork No.18 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.18
Where does the data for South Fork No.18 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.18.