Lake Stephens Dam dam
Lake Stephens Dam
Lake Stephens Dam, located in Raleigh County, West Virginia, is a rockfill dam completed in 1963 primarily for recreational purposes, offering visitors a picturesque setting for outdoor activities. Standing at a height of 74 feet and with a length of 875 feet, the dam provides a storage capacity of 8990 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 248 acres. However, recent assessments have rated its condition as poor and with a high hazard potential, prompting the need for regular inspections to ensure public safety.
Despite its current state, the dam remains a popular destination for water resource and climate enthusiasts, attracting visitors to enjoy the surrounding Stephens Branch stream and reservoir. The dam is under state jurisdiction and regulated by the West Virginia Division of Water and Waste Management, with regular inspections mandated to address maintenance issues and ensure compliance with safety standards. The dam's emergency action plan is also periodically reviewed and updated to meet guidelines and manage potential risks, highlighting the importance of proactive measures in safeguarding the dam's integrity.
As a key feature in the region's landscape, Lake Stephens Dam serves not only as a recreational spot but also as a critical water resource infrastructure that requires ongoing attention and maintenance. With a commitment to safety and environmental stewardship, stakeholders continue to monitor and improve the dam's condition to sustain its function and preserve the natural beauty of the surrounding area for future generations of enthusiasts to enjoy.
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 Lake Stephens Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Piney Creek At Raleigh | 23 cfs | → |
| Clear Fork At Whitesville | 24 cfs | → |
| New River At Thurmond | 8,940 cfs | → |
| Guyandotte River Near Baileysville | 168 cfs | → |
| Bluestone River Near Pipestem | 182 cfs | → |
| Clear Fork At Clear Fork | 40 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Stephens Dam.
Boat launches
- Raleigh County
- Johnstown Road Raleigh County
- State Route 41 Fayette County
- Stone Cliff Trail Fayette County
- Clayton-Judson Road Summers County
- Island Loop Trail Raleigh County
Campgrounds
- Army Camp
- Primitive Camping
- Summit Bechtel Reserve
- Blue Jay - Camp Creek State Park
- Mash Fork - Camp Creek State Park
- Bluestone State Park
Paddle runs
- Bluestone Dam To Gauley Bridge
- Bluestone Dam To Sandstone
- Meadow Creek Junction To The Route U.S. 19 Bridge
- The Route U.S. 19 Bridge To The Confluence With The Gauley River
- The U.S. Route 460 Bridge In Glen Lyn, Virginia To The Maximum Summer Pool Elevation Of Bluestone Lake, South Of Hinton, West Virginia
- Upper Gauley - Summersville Dam To Mason Branch
Track Lake Stephens 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 Lake Stephens Dam
Where does the data for Lake Stephens 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 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 Lake Stephens Dam.