Big Guano Creek Flyash Dam dam
Big Guano Creek Flyash Dam
The Big Guano Creek Flyash Dam, also known as Dean Miller Farm Pond Dam, is a private earth dam located in Putnam, West Virginia. Built in 1966, this dam serves as a tailings storage structure with a height of 67 feet and a storage capacity of 128 acre-feet. The dam is situated on Big Guano Creek and is under the jurisdiction of the Huntington District.
Despite its undetermined hazard potential and lack of recent condition assessment, the Big Guano Creek Flyash Dam remains a significant structure in the region. With a storage capacity of 128 acre-feet and a surface area of 8.5 acres, this dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area. Although not state-regulated or inspected, the dam continues to serve its purpose effectively.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Big Guano Creek Flyash Dam presents an intriguing case study of a privately-owned earth dam in West Virginia. With its unique history, design, and purpose, this dam offers valuable insights into the management of water resources and the challenges faced by private dam owners in ensuring the safety and functionality of such structures.
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 Big Guano Creek Flyash Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Creek At Hurricane | 120 cfs | → |
| Pocatalico River At Sissonville | 508 cfs | → |
| Coal River At Tornado | 416 cfs | → |
| Kanawha River At Charleston | 6,480 cfs | → |
| Big Coal River At Ashford | 155 cfs | → |
| Elk River At Queen Shoals | 1,230 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Big Guano Creek Flyash Dam.
Track Big Guano Creek Flyash Dam 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 Big Guano Creek Flyash Dam
Where does the data for Big Guano Creek Flyash Dam 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 Undetermined 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 Big Guano Creek Flyash Dam.