Upper Grave No.3 dam
Upper Grave No.3
Upper Grave No.3, located in Cameron, West Virginia, is a crucial Earth dam responsible for flood risk reduction along Grave Creek. Constructed in 1958 by the USDA NRCS, this dam stands at a height of 48 feet and has a hydraulic height of 46 feet. With a storage capacity of 44 acre-feet and a drainage area of 0.15 square miles, this dam plays a vital role in mitigating potential flooding in the area.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, Upper Grave No.3 has a high hazard potential but is currently in satisfactory condition. The dam, with an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, underwent its last inspection in April 2014. Despite its moderate risk assessment, the dam meets regulatory guidelines and is equipped to handle emergency situations effectively.
With its primary purpose being flood risk reduction, Upper Grave No.3 serves as a critical infrastructure to protect the surrounding community from potential disasters. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the significance of this dam in maintaining the safety and well-being of the region is essential in appreciating the vital role it plays in water management and environmental conservation efforts.
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 Grave No.3 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wheeling Creek At Elm Grove | 74 cfs | → |
| Captina Cr. At S.R. 148 At Armstrongs Mills | 41 cfs | → |
| Wheeling Creek Below Blaine Oh | 58 cfs | → |
| Ohio River Above Sardis | 43,300 cfs | → |
| Short Creek Near Dillonvale Oh | 88 cfs | → |
| South Fork Tenmile Creek At Jefferson | 31 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Grave No.3.
Boat launches
- 13th Street 107, Moundsville
- Powhatan Point Boat Launch
- Clarington Village Ramp
- Monroe County Park District Ramp
- Dutch Fork Lake (West Side)
- West Adams Street Paden City
Track Upper Grave No.3 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 Grave No.3
Where does the data for Upper Grave No.3 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 Grave No.3.