Mill Creek No.13 dam
Mill Creek No.13
Mill Creek No.13, also known as Tug Fork & O'Brien Lake, is a local government-owned structure designed by the USDA NRCS in West Virginia. This dam, completed in 1986, serves primarily for flood risk reduction with additional benefits for recreation. Its earth dam type stands at a height of 92 feet and has a hydraulic height of 89 feet, providing a storage capacity of 25,362 acre-feet and covering a surface area of 217 acres.
Situated in Jackson County, West Virginia, along the Tug Fork river, this dam has a high hazard potential but is currently assessed as satisfactory in condition. The last inspection in October 2018 revealed no major issues, with a regular inspection frequency of every two years. While the dam's risk assessment is moderate, measures for risk management and emergency preparedness have not been explicitly outlined. Despite this, Mill Creek No.13 continues to stand as a crucial infrastructure for flood control in the region, overseen by the state regulatory agency DWWM.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Mill Creek No.13 offers a fascinating example of human-engineered infrastructure interacting with natural landscapes. Its design and construction by the USDA NRCS showcase the collaborative efforts to manage flood risk and enhance recreational opportunities. The dam's location in the Huntington District and its association with the Tug Fork river add to its regional significance, emphasizing the importance of effective water resource management in maintaining safety and environmental balance.
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 Mill Creek No.13 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pocatalico River At Sissonville | 19 cfs | → |
| W.Fork Little Kanawha River At Rocksdale | 21 cfs | → |
| Shade River Near Chester Oh | 41 cfs | → |
| Little Kanawha River At Palestine | 471 cfs | → |
| Kanawha River At Charleston | 6,370 cfs | → |
| Elk River At Queen Shoals | 605 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mill Creek No.13.
Track Mill Creek No.13 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 Mill Creek No.13
Where does the data for Mill Creek No.13 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 Mill Creek No.13.