Pocatalico Structure No.28 dam
Pocatalico Structure No.28
Pocatalico Structure No.28, also known as Middle Fork & Woody Woodrum Lake, is a rockfill dam located in Sissonville, West Virginia. Built in 1987 by the USDA NRCS, this structure serves as a flood risk reduction measure along the Middle Fork river. With a height of 88 feet and a storage capacity of 17,921 acre-feet, this dam plays a crucial role in protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events.
The dam's primary purpose is flood risk reduction, but it also provides recreational opportunities for the local community. With a surface area of 244 acres and a drainage area of 15.55 square miles, Pocatalico Structure No.28 offers a tranquil setting for outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the dam is in satisfactory condition and is inspected regularly to ensure its safety and effectiveness in mitigating flood risks.
Managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, this dam is regulated by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection's DWWM division. Its emergency action plan is up to date, and risk assessments have deemed its risk level as moderate. Overall, Pocatalico Structure No.28 stands as a vital infrastructure for water resource management 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 Pocatalico Structure No.28 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pocatalico River At Sissonville | 6 cfs | → |
| Kanawha River At Charleston | 4,580 cfs | → |
| Elk River At Queen Shoals | 762 cfs | → |
| Coal River At Tornado | 287 cfs | → |
| W.Fork Little Kanawha River At Rocksdale | 15 cfs | → |
| Hurricane Creek At Hurricane | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pocatalico Structure No.28.
Boat launches
Track Pocatalico Structure No.28 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 Pocatalico Structure No.28
Where does the data for Pocatalico Structure No.28 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 Pocatalico Structure No.28.