The Summit - Dam A dam
The Summit - Dam A
The Summit - Dam A, located in Fayette, West Virginia, is a private earth dam completed in 2013 with a primary purpose of recreation. Standing at 73 feet tall and stretching 377 feet in length, this dam on Barren Branch provides a storage capacity of 1051.7 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 290.6 acre-feet. The dam boasts a surface area of 62.6 acres and drains an area of 0.72 square miles.
Managed by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, The Summit - Dam A is subject to state regulation and inspection, ensuring its safety and compliance with standards. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam has been assessed as satisfactory, with its condition last evaluated in January 2014. Emergency action plans are in place, with the most recent revision in October 2018, highlighting the commitment to ensuring public safety in case of a dam-related emergency.
With its picturesque location and impressive recreational offerings, The Summit - Dam A is not only a vital water resource but also a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Its construction and maintenance reflect a dedication to both enjoyment and safety, making it a valuable asset within the water resource and climate management landscape.
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 The Summit - Dam A -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| New River At Thurmond | 8,940 cfs | → |
| Piney Creek At Raleigh | 23 cfs | → |
| Kanawha River At Kanawha Falls | 7,040 cfs | → |
| Meadow River At Nallen | 606 cfs | → |
| Clear Fork At Whitesville | 24 cfs | → |
| Gauley River Above Belva | 2,600 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near The Summit - Dam A.
Boat launches
- Stone Cliff Trail Fayette County
- Johnstown Road Raleigh County
- State Route 41 Fayette County
- Fayette Station Road Fayetteville
- Raleigh County
- Clayton-Judson Road Summers County
Campgrounds
- Summit Bechtel Reserve
- Army Camp
- Babcock State Park
- Chestnut Creek Campground
- Primitive Camping
- Ray's Campground
Paddle runs
- The Route U.S. 19 Bridge To The Confluence With The Gauley River
- Meadow Creek Junction To The Route U.S. 19 Bridge
- Bluestone Dam To Sandstone
- Bluestone Dam To Gauley Bridge
- Upper Gauley - Summersville Dam To Mason Branch
- Begins Below Summersville Lake To The Town Of Swiss
Track The Summit - Dam A 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 The Summit - Dam A
Where does the data for The Summit - Dam A 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 The Summit - Dam A.