Salem Fork #12 dam
Salem Fork #12
Salem Fork #12, also known as Westfall Dam, is a vital flood risk reduction infrastructure located in Salem, West Virginia. Built in 1955 by USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 35.65 feet and has a hydraulic height of 28.65 feet, providing crucial protection to the surrounding areas along Jacobs Run. With a storage capacity of 25 acre-feet, this dam plays a significant role in managing floodwaters and protecting the local community from potential hazards.
Managed by the local government, Salem Fork #12 is regulated and inspected by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam is in satisfactory condition and meets regulatory guidelines. The last inspection in 2017 deemed the structure to be in good working order. With a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, the dam continues to serve its primary purpose of flood risk reduction effectively, ensuring the safety and well-being of residents in the region.
As an essential piece of infrastructure in flood-prone West Virginia, Salem Fork #12 serves as a testament to the importance of proactive water resource management and climate resilience. With its earth construction and stone core, this dam exemplifies the collaborative efforts between federal agencies, local governments, and regulatory bodies to safeguard communities against natural disasters. Moving forward, continued monitoring and maintenance of Salem Fork #12 will be crucial in upholding its protective functions and ensuring the long-term safety of the surrounding area.
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 Salem Fork #12 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| West Fork River Near Mount Clare | 271 cfs | → |
| W.F. River At Butcherville | 58 cfs | → |
| West Fork River At Enterprise | 174 cfs | → |
| West Fork R Bl Stonewall Jackson Dam Nr Weston | 20 cfs | → |
| Tygart Valley River At Colfax | 748 cfs | → |
| Buffalo Creek At Barrackville | 73 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Salem Fork #12.
Boat launches
- Lewis County
- State Park Trail Lewis County
- County Route 5/6 Ritchie County
- Monroe County Park District Ramp
- Madison Street Buckhannon
- West Adams Street Paden City
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Salem Fork #12 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 Salem Fork #12
Where does the data for Salem Fork #12 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 Salem Fork #12.