New Bramwell Dam dam
New Bramwell Dam
New Bramwell Dam, located in Mercer County, West Virginia, is a local government-owned structure that serves as a recreational hub for water resource and climate enthusiasts. Completed in 1970, this earth-type dam stands at a height of 37 feet and has a storage capacity of 36 acre-feet. The dam, situated on the Bluestone River, covers a surface area of 2 acres and is a popular spot for outdoor activities such as boating, fishing, and hiking.
Despite its primary purpose being recreation, New Bramwell Dam also plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region. However, the dam is currently rated as having a high hazard potential and poor condition, as per the last assessment in 2015. Regular inspections are conducted to ensure the safety and integrity of the structure, with the most recent inspection taking place in May 2018. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the maintenance and upkeep of dams like New Bramwell are vital to safeguarding communities and ecosystems.
In the event of an emergency, the dam's emergency action plan (EAP) may need updating, as the last revision was in 1996. The dam is under the jurisdiction of the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Water and Waste Management (DWWM), ensuring compliance with state regulations. With a history dating back to the 1970s, New Bramwell Dam stands as a testament to the importance of responsible water resource management and climate adaptation strategies in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 New Bramwell Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bluestone River At Falls Mills | 15 cfs | → |
| Tug Fork At Welch | 77 cfs | → |
| Bluestone River Near Pipestem | 67 cfs | → |
| New River At Glen Lyn | 1,490 cfs | → |
| Wolf Creek Near Narrows | 51 cfs | → |
| Guyandotte River Near Baileysville | 137 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near New Bramwell Dam.
Campgrounds
- Mash Fork - Camp Creek State Park
- Laurel Creek Campsite
- Blue Jay - Camp Creek State Park
- Stony Fork Campground
- Stony Fork
- Stony Fork Cabin
Paddle runs
- The U.S. Route 460 Bridge In Glen Lyn, Virginia To The Maximum Summer Pool Elevation Of Bluestone Lake, South Of Hinton, West Virginia
- Bluestone Dam To Gauley Bridge
- Bluestone Dam To Sandstone
- Jefferson Nf Boundary (Above Cascades Fall) To Jefferson Nf Boundary (Below Cascades Fall)
- Jefferson Nf Boundary Near Confluence With Nettle Hollow To Confluence With Laurel Branch
- Whitetop Laurel--Jefferson Nf Boundary (Intersection Of Hwy 58 And Sr 859) To Jefferson Nf Boundary Above Damascus
Track New Bramwell 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 New Bramwell Dam
Where does the data for New Bramwell 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 New Bramwell Dam.