Bendale Dam dam
Bendale Dam
Bendale Dam, located in West Virginia along the West Fork River, was completed in 1924 and serves as a critical water supply infrastructure for the region. The dam is classified as a concrete gravity structure, standing at 14 feet high and spanning 158 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 180 acre-feet and a surface area of 28 acres, Bendale Dam plays a key role in regulating water flow and ensuring a stable water supply for the surrounding communities.
Managed by the public utility sector and regulated by the West Virginia Division of Water and Waste Management, Bendale Dam has a low hazard potential and is assessed to be in satisfactory condition as of the last inspection in 2014. The dam has a spillway capacity of 7900 cubic feet per second and is equipped with emergency action plans to mitigate any potential risks. With a history of safe operation and consistent maintenance, Bendale Dam continues to play a crucial role in water management and climate resilience efforts in the region.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the significance of Bendale Dam lies in its contribution to sustainable water supply management and its role in supporting the local ecosystem. With a focus on water supply as the primary purpose, the dam stands as a testament to responsible infrastructure development and effective regulatory oversight. As climate change impacts water resources, Bendale Dam serves as a vital tool in adapting to evolving conditions and ensuring the resilience of water systems for future generations.
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 Bendale Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| West Fork R Bl Stonewall Jackson Dam Nr Weston | 31 cfs | → |
| W.F. River At Butcherville | 79 cfs | → |
| West Fork River Near Mount Clare | 271 cfs | → |
| Sand Run Near Buckhannon | 8 cfs | → |
| L Kanawha River Nr Wildcat | 39 cfs | → |
| Buckhannon River At Alton | 91 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bendale Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Stonewall Jackson State Park
- Riffle Run Campground
- Riffle Run
- Bulltown
- Cedar Creek State Park
- Audra State Park
Track Bendale Dam 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 Bendale Dam
Where does the data for Bendale Dam 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 Low 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 Bendale Dam.