Sporn Unit 5 Flyash Dam dam
Sporn Unit 5 Flyash Dam
The Sporn Unit 5 Flyash Dam in West Virginia is a significant earth dam used for tailings storage with a height of 65 feet and a storage capacity of 2219 acre-feet. The dam, located in Mason County near New Haven, serves as a crucial structure for managing the byproducts of coal combustion and ensuring environmental protection. Despite its significant hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment remains satisfactory, with regular inspections and a designated emergency action plan.
Owned by a public utility, the Sporn Unit 5 Flyash Dam is regulated and permitted by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Water and Waste Management. The dam's purpose is specifically tailored for tailings storage, with a normal storage capacity of 1840 acre-feet spread across a surface area of 70.3 acres. Despite being last inspected in 2011, the dam meets regulatory guidelines and boasts a structured emergency preparedness plan.
With a drainage area of 0.12 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 17.5 cubic feet per second, the Sporn Unit 5 Flyash Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region. Its location within the Huntington District underscores the importance of proper maintenance and oversight to ensure the safety and efficiency of the dam for both environmental and public safety concerns.
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 Sporn Unit 5 Flyash Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Shade River Near Chester Oh | 20 cfs | → |
| Raccoon Creek At Adamsville Oh | 11,600 cfs | → |
| Hocking River At Athens Oh | 272 cfs | → |
| Raccoon Creek Near Bolin Mills Oh | 47 cfs | → |
| Little Raccoon Creek Near Ewington Oh | 18 cfs | → |
| Little Kanawha River At Palestine | 297 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sporn Unit 5 Flyash Dam.
Track Sporn Unit 5 Flyash 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 Sporn Unit 5 Flyash Dam
Where does the data for Sporn Unit 5 Flyash 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 Significant 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 Sporn Unit 5 Flyash Dam.