Upper Buffalo No.16 dam
Upper Buffalo No.16
Located in Marion, West Virginia, Upper Buffalo No.16 is a local government-owned earth dam designed by USDA NRCS and completed in 1981. The dam, standing at a height of 68.7 feet and with a length of 365 feet, serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction along Hibbs Run. With a storage capacity of 1,270 acre-feet and a normal storage of 580 acre-feet, it covers a surface area of 32.7 acres and drains an area of 887 square miles.
This high hazard potential dam has a satisfactory condition assessment as of April 2013 and a moderate risk rating. It is regulated by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection and undergoes regular inspections, with the last one conducted in January 2018. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, with no associated locks. Despite its age, Upper Buffalo No.16 continues to safeguard the surrounding area from potential flood events, highlighting the importance of effective water resource management in mitigating climate-related risks.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Upper Buffalo No.16 offers a fascinating case study in dam infrastructure and flood risk reduction efforts. Its presence underscores the critical role of government agencies like NRCS and DWWM in ensuring the safety and stability of such structures. As climate change intensifies the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, the maintenance and regulation of dams like Upper Buffalo No.16 become increasingly vital in protecting vulnerable communities and ecosystems from the impacts of flooding.
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 Upper Buffalo No.16 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| West Fork River At Enterprise | 197 cfs | → |
| Buffalo Creek At Barrackville | 73 cfs | → |
| Tygart Valley River At Colfax | 741 cfs | → |
| West Fork River Near Mount Clare | 271 cfs | → |
| Deckers Creek At Morgantown | 48 cfs | → |
| Tygart Valley R At Tygart Dam Nr Grafton | 785 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Buffalo No.16.
Boat launches
- Mon River Trail South Marion County
- Caperton Trail 371, Star City
- Mon River Trail North Monongalia County
- Monroe County Park District Ramp
- Point Marion
- West Adams Street Paden City
Fishing spots
- Bruceton Mills Public Fishing Area
- Belmot Lake
- Belmont Lake
- Barnesville Reservoir Number Three
- Snowy Creek
- Barnesville Lake
Paddle runs
- Route 33/8 To Jobs Run Near Porterwood
- Begins As River Passes Under The Herrington Manor Road Bridge At Oakland, Maryland To The Corporate Boundary Of Friendsville, Maryland
- Otter Creek To Blackwater
- North Fork To Hickory Lick Run
- Enter Otter Creek Wilderness To Exit Otter Creek Wilderness
- Glady Fork River To Otter Creek
Track Upper Buffalo No.16 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 Upper Buffalo No.16
Where does the data for Upper Buffalo No.16 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 Upper Buffalo No.16.