Salem Fork No.15 dam
Salem Fork No.15
Salem Fork No.15 is a significant earth dam located in Salem, West Virginia, designed by the USDA NRCS to reduce flood risks along the Salem Fork river. Completed in 1956, this dam stands at a height of 26.5 feet and has a maximum storage capacity of 49.5 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 37.3 acre-feet. The dam covers a surface area of 3.3 acres and has a spillway type classified as 'Uncontrolled', with a maximum discharge capacity of 1532 cubic feet per second.
Managed by the local government, Salem Fork No.15 is regulated by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DWWM), ensuring that it meets state permitting, inspection, and enforcement requirements. Despite being assessed as having a 'High' hazard potential, the dam's condition was reported as 'Satisfactory' during the last assessment in 2013, indicating that it is structurally sound. With a moderate risk assessment rating of '3', this dam plays a crucial role in protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events and showcases the collaborative efforts between federal and state agencies in ensuring water resource and climate resilience in the region.
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 No.15 -- 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 | → |
| Middle Island Creek At Little | 103 cfs | → |
| Tygart Valley River At Colfax | 748 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Salem Fork No.15.
Boat launches
- Lewis County
- State Park Trail Lewis County
- County Route 5/6 Ritchie County
- Monroe County Park District Ramp
- West Adams Street Paden City
- Madison Street Buckhannon
Track Salem Fork No.15 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 No.15
Where does the data for Salem Fork No.15 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 No.15.