Salt Lick Creek No. 7 Dam dam
Salt Lick Creek No. 7 Dam
Salt Lick Creek No. 7 Dam, also known as Spruce Fork, is a local government-owned structure in Braxton, West Virginia, designed by the USDA NRCS and completed in 1966. This earth dam stands at a height of 52 feet and spans 416 feet across Spruce Fork, with a storage capacity of 428 acre-feet. Its primary purpose is flood risk reduction, catering to a drainage area of 1.81 square miles.
The dam, regulated by the West Virginia Division of Water and Waste Management, poses a high hazard potential but maintains a satisfactory condition as of the last assessment in 2015. While it has an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, the structure has undergone regular inspections and is equipped to handle emergencies. With a moderate risk assessment, the dam plays a crucial role in mitigating flood risks in the area, under the supervision of state regulatory agencies.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Salt Lick Creek No. 7 Dam serves as a prime example of local government efforts to manage flood risks effectively. Its strategic location in Burnsville, West Virginia, and the utilization of natural resources for construction highlight the importance of sustainable infrastructure development in safeguarding communities against potential hazards. With its rich history and ongoing maintenance, this dam stands as a testament to the intersection of environmental conservation and public safety in water resource management.
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 Salt Lick Creek No. 7 Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| L Kanawha River Nr Wildcat | 26 cfs | → |
| Elk River Below Webster Springs | 175 cfs | → |
| Birch River At Herold | 11 cfs | → |
| West Fork R Bl Stonewall Jackson Dam Nr Weston | 20 cfs | → |
| Buckhannon River At Alton | 47 cfs | → |
| W.F. River At Butcherville | 58 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Salt Lick Creek No. 7 Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Paddle runs
- The Cora Brown Bridge In Nicholas County To The Confluence With The Elk River In Braxton County
- The Junction With Williams River To The Junction With Panther Creek
- Three Forks To Spice Run
- The U.S. Forest Service Cranberry Campground To The Confluence With The Gauley River
- National Forest Land To Tea Creek
- Tea Creek To Three Forks
Track Salt Lick Creek No. 7 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 Salt Lick Creek No. 7 Dam
Where does the data for Salt Lick Creek No. 7 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 Salt Lick Creek No. 7 Dam.