Upper Buffalo Creek 37a Dam
Upper Buffalo Creek 37a
Upper Buffalo Creek 37a, also known as Whetstone Run, is a local government-owned dam located in Marion County, West Virginia. Built in 1990 by BOWSER-MORNER, this earth dam stands at a height of 55 feet and spans a length of 410 feet, with a storage capacity of 848 acre-feet. The primary purpose of this structure is flood risk reduction, serving the surrounding area by regulating the flow of Whetstone Run.
Managed by the West Virginia Division of Water and Waste Management (DWWM), Upper Buffalo Creek 37a is inspected regularly to ensure its structural integrity and safety. With a high hazard potential, the dam is classified as a moderate risk (3) according to risk assessment evaluations. Despite its satisfactory condition as of the last assessment in April 2013, emergency action plans and risk management measures are yet to be fully developed for this site.
Situated in the Huntington District, Upper Buffalo Creek 37a is a vital component in the flood management infrastructure of the area. With its uncontrolled spillway and high hazard potential, continued vigilance and maintenance are essential to safeguard the community from potential risks associated with this key flood risk reduction structure.
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 Creek 37a -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| West Fork River At Enterprise | 507 cfs | → |
| Buffalo Creek At Barrackville | 84 cfs | → |
| Tygart Valley River At Colfax | 1,350 cfs | → |
| West Fork River Near Mount Clare | 271 cfs | → |
| Tygart Valley R At Tygart Dam Nr Grafton | 1,160 cfs | → |
| Deckers Creek At Morgantown | 170 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Buffalo Creek 37a.
Boat launches
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Fishing spots
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River runs
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About Upper Buffalo Creek 37a
Where does the data for Upper Buffalo Creek 37a 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 below 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.
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.