New Creek Dam No.5 dam
New Creek Dam No.5
New Creek Dam No.5, located in Mineral, West Virginia, is a crucial flood risk reduction structure designed by the USDA NRCS and completed in 1957. This earth dam stands at a height of 35 feet and has a hydraulic height of 32 feet, providing protection to the surrounding area along the New Creek river. With a storage capacity of 411 acre-feet and a normal storage of 20 acre-feet, the dam plays a vital role in managing water resources in the region.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, New Creek Dam No.5 is inspected every 2 years to ensure its satisfactory condition and high hazard potential are being addressed. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam's risk assessment is moderate (3), indicating a level of risk management in place. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, and it has an uncontrolled outlet gates system, highlighting the importance of regular monitoring and maintenance to ensure its continued effectiveness in flood risk reduction.
With David B. McKinley (R) representing the area in Congress, New Creek Dam No.5 serves as a key infrastructure in the region's water resource management strategy. As climate change continues to impact weather patterns, structures like this become even more critical in mitigating flood risks and ensuring the safety of nearby communities. By adhering to inspection and maintenance schedules, New Creek Dam No.5 stands as a testament to successful collaboration between local and state agencies in safeguarding water resources and enhancing climate resilience in West Virginia.
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 Creek Dam No.5 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Branch Potomac River At Barnum | 2,780 cfs | → |
| North Branch Potomac River At Luke | 3,810 cfs | → |
| Georges Creek At Franklin | 244 cfs | → |
| North Branch Potomac River At Kitzmiller | 1,210 cfs | → |
| Abram Creek At Oakmont | 236 cfs | → |
| Savage Riv Bl Savage Riv Dam Near Bloomington | 779 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near New Creek Dam No.5.
Boat launches
- Mount Zion Road Garrett County
- Springfield Pike Hampshire County
- Chesapeake And Ohio Canal Trail Allegany County
- Blue Trail Garrett County
- South Access`
- North Access
Campgrounds
- Robert W. Craig Memorial Campground
- Robert W. Craig - Jennings Randolph Lake
- Abram’S Creek Retreat & Campground
- Big Run State Park
- Lost Land Run - Potomac State Forest
- Wallman/Laurel Run - Potomac State Forest
Fishing spots
- Savage River Reservoir
- Georges Creek
- Dans Mountain Pond
- Little Youghiogheny River Reservoir
- Broadford Lake
- Sand Spring Run
Paddle runs
- Begins As River Passes Under The Herrington Manor Road Bridge At Oakland, Maryland To The Corporate Boundary Of Friendsville, Maryland
- Jake Hill Road Bridge To Shreve Store
- Begins Where The Lost River Becomes The Cacapon River To Wardensville
- The West Virginia 259 Bridge South Of Wardensville To Ends Where The Lost River Becomes The Cacapon River
- Perennial Stream At Forks To Dolly Sods Wilderness Boundary
- Wardensville To The Town Of Capon Bridge
Track New Creek Dam No.5 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 Creek Dam No.5
Where does the data for New Creek Dam No.5 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 Creek Dam No.5.