B & O Dam dam
B & O Dam
The B & O Dam in Preston, West Virginia, stands as a critical structure regulating the flow of the Little Racoon Creek. Completed in 1904, this concrete dam serves primarily for recreation but also plays a role in water supply. With a height of 41 feet and a storage capacity of 105 acre-feet, the dam covers a surface area of 7 acres and serves a drainage area of 1.65 square miles.
Despite its historical significance, the B & O Dam poses a high hazard potential with a poor condition assessment. In 2013, a poor condition assessment was reported, indicating a need for maintenance and repairs. The dam's last inspection in 2017 also raised concerns, prompting the need for more frequent inspections and potential risk management measures to ensure the safety and integrity of the structure.
Local government ownership and state regulation by the Division of Water and Waste Management (DWWM) underscore the importance of safeguarding this dam for water resource management and climate resiliency in the region. With its rich history and critical role in recreation and water supply, the B & O Dam serves as a focal point for enthusiasts and stakeholders interested in the intersection of water resources and climate change adaptation.
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 B & O Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Three Fork Creek Nr Grafton | 156 cfs | → |
| Tygart Valley R At Tygart Dam Nr Grafton | 787 cfs | → |
| Cheat River At Albright | 860 cfs | → |
| Tygart Valley River At Colfax | 847 cfs | → |
| Big Sandy Creek At Rockville | 289 cfs | → |
| Deckers Creek At Morgantown | 85 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near B & O Dam.
Boat launches
- Mon River Trail South Marion County
- Beverly-Fairmont Pike Philippi
- Caperton Trail 371, Star City
- Blue Trail Garrett County
- Mon River Trail North Monongalia County
- Point Marion
Campgrounds
- Tygart Lake State Park
- Coopers Rock State Forest
- Horseshoe Recreation And Campground Area
- Chestnut Ridge Regional Park
- Swallow Falls State Park
- Blackwater Falls State Park
Fishing spots
- Snowy Creek
- Bruceton Mills Public Fishing Area
- Broadford Lake
- Deep Creek Lake
- Little Youghiogheny River Reservoir
- Dry Fork
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 B & O 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 B & O Dam
Where does the data for B & O 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 B & O Dam.