Turkey Run Lake dam
Turkey Run Lake
Turkey Run Lake, located in Ravenswood, West Virginia, is a state-owned reservoir built in 1964 primarily for recreational purposes. The dam, standing at 33 feet tall and 1000 feet long, impounds the waters of Turkey Run, offering visitors a serene escape surrounded by nature. With a storage capacity of 340 acre-feet, the lake provides ample opportunities for fishing, boating, and other water-based activities.
Despite its importance for recreation, Turkey Run Lake is classified as having a high hazard potential, indicating the need for regular inspections and maintenance to ensure public safety. The dam's condition was last assessed as fair in 2015, with inspection frequency set at every 2 years. While the dam meets state regulatory requirements for permitting, inspection, and enforcement, the potential risks associated with its high hazard classification highlight the importance of ongoing monitoring and risk management measures to protect both the reservoir and the surrounding community.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Turkey Run Lake serves as a fascinating case study in the intersection of human development and environmental stewardship. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the management and maintenance of dams like Turkey Run become increasingly vital to ensure their long-term sustainability and resilience in the face of evolving environmental pressures. By understanding the complexities of managing these critical water infrastructure systems, enthusiasts can gain valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of balancing human needs with ecological health in a changing climate.
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 Turkey Run Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Shade River Near Chester Oh | 18 cfs | → |
| Little Kanawha River At Palestine | 291 cfs | → |
| Hocking River At Athens Oh | 263 cfs | → |
| W.Fork Little Kanawha River At Rocksdale | 19 cfs | → |
| Pocatalico River At Sissonville | 8 cfs | → |
| Raccoon Creek At Adamsville Oh | 75 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Turkey Run Lake.
Track Turkey Run 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 Turkey Run Lake
Where does the data for Turkey Run 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 Turkey Run Lake.