South Fork No.21 dam
South Fork No.21
South Fork No.21, located in Pendleton, West Virginia, is a crucial local government-owned Earth dam designed by USDA NRCS in 1966 for flood risk reduction along the Little Rough River. With a height of 94.8 feet and a storage capacity of 788 acre-feet, this dam plays a significant role in mitigating flood hazards in the area. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with a maximum discharge capacity of 24,049 cubic feet per second, emphasizing its importance in managing excess water flow during heavy rainfall events.
Despite its high hazard potential, South Fork No.21 is in satisfactory condition as of its last assessment in 2015, with a moderate risk rating. The dam's emergency action plan and risk management measures are not currently available, highlighting the need for updated emergency preparedness protocols. The dam's inspection frequency is biennial, and it is regulated, permitted, and inspected by the West Virginia Division of Water and Waste Management (DWWM), ensuring its compliance with state regulations and continued safe operation. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, South Fork No.21 stands as a vital infrastructure piece in safeguarding the surrounding community from potential flood threats.
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 South Fork No.21 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| So Fk So Br Potomac R At Brandywine | 10 cfs | → |
| South Branch Potomac River At Franklin | 33 cfs | → |
| N F Shenandoah River At Cootes Store | 129 cfs | → |
| Muddy Creek At Mount Clinton | 1 cfs | → |
| Linville Creek At Broadway | 5 cfs | → |
| So. Branch Potomac River Nr Petersburg | 182 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near South Fork No.21.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Camp Run Campground
- Brandywine Campground
- Brandywine Recreation Area
- Jess Judy Group Campground
- Seneca Shadows Campground
- Princess Snowbird Campground
Fishing spots
- Tomahawk Pond Day Use Area
- Briery Branch Day Use Area
- Staunton Dam Day Use Area
- Elkhorn Lake Day Use Area
- Dry Fork
- Braley Pond Day Use Area
Paddle runs
- Canyon Exit To Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks Nra Boundary
- Big Bend Campground To Canyon Exit (Just Prior To Confluence With North Branch)
- Shreve Store To Big Bend Campground
- High Ridge Run To Outskirts Of Hopeville
- Jake Hill Road Bridge To Shreve Store
- Whites Run To National Recreation Area Boundary Near Us 33
Track South Fork No.21 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 South Fork No.21
Where does the data for South Fork No.21 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 South Fork No.21.