Hinkle Lake dam
Hinkle Lake
Hinkle Lake, located in Harrison County, West Virginia, is a charming recreation site owned by the local government. The dam at Hinkle Lake, completed in 1923, stands at a height of 20 feet and spans a length of 312 feet. This earth dam helps to create a serene 6-acre lake that offers a variety of recreational activities for visitors to enjoy.
With a normal storage capacity of 33 acre-feet, Hinkle Lake is a popular spot for fishing, boating, and picnicking. The dam is regulated and inspected by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, ensuring that it meets safety standards and remains in satisfactory condition. However, due to its high hazard potential, emergency preparedness plans are in place to mitigate any risks associated with the dam.
The picturesque setting of Hinkle Lake, situated along Davisson Run, provides a peaceful escape for water resource and climate enthusiasts to appreciate the beauty of nature while also understanding the importance of proper dam management and safety protocols. Whether you're seeking a relaxing day by the water or an opportunity to learn more about dam infrastructure, Hinkle Lake offers a captivating blend of recreation and environmental stewardship.
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 Hinkle Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| West Fork River Near Mount Clare | 271 cfs | → |
| West Fork River At Enterprise | 368 cfs | → |
| Tygart Valley R At Tygart Dam Nr Grafton | 787 cfs | → |
| Tygart Valley River At Colfax | 847 cfs | → |
| Tygart Valley River At Philippi | 453 cfs | → |
| Three Fork Creek Nr Grafton | 156 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hinkle Lake.
Boat launches
- Beverly-Fairmont Pike Philippi
- Mon River Trail South Marion County
- Madison Street Buckhannon
- Lewis County
- State Park Trail Lewis County
- Caperton Trail 371, Star City
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Bruceton Mills Public Fishing Area
- Snowy Creek
- Dry Fork
- Broadford Lake
- Deep Creek Lake
- Little Youghiogheny River Reservoir
Track Hinkle Lake 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 Hinkle Lake
Where does the data for Hinkle Lake 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 Hinkle Lake.