Wildwood Lake dam
Wildwood Lake
Wildwood Lake, located in Monongalia, West Virginia, is a privately owned earth dam that was completed in 1965 for the primary purpose of recreation. The dam stands at a height of 29 feet with a hydraulic height of 27 feet, creating a storage capacity of 379 acre-feet. The lake covers a surface area of 29 acres and is situated along the Boyd Run river, attracting water resource and climate enthusiasts looking to enjoy outdoor activities in a picturesque setting.
Despite its recreational appeal, Wildwood Lake poses a significant hazard potential with a poor condition assessment, last conducted in 2012. The dam's inspection frequency is every 3 years, with the last inspection taking place in November 2017. The dam is under state regulation and jurisdiction, with permitting, inspection, and enforcement handled by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Water and Waste Management (DWWM). Given its condition and hazard potential, continued monitoring and maintenance of Wildwood Lake are crucial to ensuring the safety of the surrounding area and its visitors.
As a focal point for outdoor recreation in the Three Fork Bridge area, Wildwood Lake offers a tranquil escape for water enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. Its location within the Huntington District of West Virginia, under the ownership of a private entity, highlights the importance of responsible stewardship of this vital water resource. With its historical significance dating back to the 1960s, Wildwood Lake serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between human enjoyment and environmental preservation in the face of changing climate 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 Wildwood Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Deckers Creek At Morgantown | 28 cfs | → |
| Three Fork Creek Nr Grafton | 51 cfs | → |
| Big Sandy Creek At Rockville | 66 cfs | → |
| Tygart Valley River At Colfax | 754 cfs | → |
| Cheat River At Albright | 888 cfs | → |
| Tygart Valley R At Tygart Dam Nr Grafton | 792 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wildwood Lake.
Boat launches
- Mon River Trail South Marion County
- Caperton Trail 371, Star City
- Mon River Trail North Monongalia County
- Point Marion
- New Geneva
- Glassworks
Campgrounds
- Coopers Rock State Forest
- Chestnut Ridge Regional Park
- Tygart Lake State Park
- Mason - Dixon Historical Park
- Swallow Falls State Park
- Tall Oaks Campground
Fishing spots
- Bruceton Mills Public Fishing Area
- Snowy Creek
- Deep Creek Lake
- Broadford Lake
- Little Youghiogheny River Reservoir
- Savage River Reservoir
Paddle runs
- Begins As River Passes Under The Herrington Manor Road Bridge At Oakland, Maryland To The Corporate Boundary Of Friendsville, Maryland
- Route 33/8 To Jobs Run Near Porterwood
- North Fork To Hickory Lick Run
- Otter Creek To Blackwater
- State Park Bridge To North Fork
- Enter Otter Creek Wilderness To Exit Otter Creek Wilderness
Track Wildwood Lake 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 Wildwood Lake
Where does the data for Wildwood Lake 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 Wildwood Lake.