Huffman Dam dam
Huffman Dam
Huffman Dam, located in Mason, West Virginia, serves as a vital recreational spot along the unnamed tributary of West Creek. Completed in 2010, this private-owned dam stands at a height of 35 feet and spans 250 feet in length, offering a storage capacity of 57 acre-feet. Despite its impressive size and scenic surroundings, the dam poses a high hazard potential due to its poor condition assessment, prompting a biennial inspection frequency to ensure public safety.
Managed by the state regulatory agency DWWM, Huffman Dam is subject to state permitting, inspection, and enforcement, highlighting the commitment to maintaining its structural integrity. Although the dam's primary purpose is recreation, the lack of drainage area and spillway width information raises concerns about its capacity to handle potential flooding events. Furthermore, the dam's emergency preparedness measures, such as an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) and inundation maps, seem to be lacking, posing a potential risk to nearby communities in the event of a breach.
Despite its maintenance challenges, Huffman Dam remains a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts seeking water-based activities in a picturesque setting. As climate change continues to impact water resources and weather patterns, the need for robust risk management measures and regular inspections becomes increasingly crucial to safeguard both the dam's structural integrity and the surrounding ecosystem. Through proactive monitoring and maintenance efforts, Huffman Dam can continue to provide safe and enjoyable recreational opportunities for visitors while mitigating potential hazards associated with its aging infrastructure.
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 Huffman Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Shade River Near Chester Oh | 18 cfs | → |
| Raccoon Creek At Adamsville Oh | 75 cfs | → |
| Little Raccoon Creek Near Ewington Oh | 18 cfs | → |
| Raccoon Creek Near Bolin Mills Oh | 47 cfs | → |
| Hocking River At Athens Oh | 263 cfs | → |
| Little Kanawha River At Palestine | 291 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Huffman Dam.
Track Huffman 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 Huffman Dam
Where does the data for Huffman 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 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 Huffman Dam.