Flat Top Lake Dam dam
Flat Top Lake Dam
Flat Top Lake Dam, located in Raleigh, West Virginia, is a privately owned earth dam that was completed in 1950 for recreational purposes. This 45-foot tall structure on Beaverpond Branch boasts a storage capacity of 4773 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 2812.5 acre-feet and a surface area of 234 acres. Despite its significant recreational value, the dam is classified as having a high hazard potential and poor condition, as assessed in 2010.
With a history of state regulation and inspection by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, including enforcement measures, Flat Top Lake Dam is subject to regular monitoring to ensure public safety. The dam's design and construction fall under state permitting and inspection requirements, highlighting the importance of ongoing maintenance and management to mitigate risks associated with its aging infrastructure. Notably, the dam's emergency action plan was last revised in 2016, reflecting efforts to enhance preparedness for potential incidents.
As a key feature in the region's water resource and climate landscape, Flat Top Lake Dam serves as both a recreational hub and a critical structure requiring vigilant oversight. Its location in Glade Creek highlights the interconnectedness of water bodies and the need for sustainable dam management practices to safeguard surrounding communities and ecosystems. Despite its age and condition challenges, the dam's significance underscores the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its continued safe operation in the face of evolving 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 Flat Top Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bluestone River Near Pipestem | 182 cfs | → |
| Piney Creek At Raleigh | 23 cfs | → |
| Greenbrier River At Hilldale | 9,060 cfs | → |
| New River At Glen Lyn | 2,410 cfs | → |
| New River At Thurmond | 8,940 cfs | → |
| Greenbrier River At Alderson | 9,200 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Flat Top Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Raleigh County
- New River Road Raleigh County
- Island Loop Trail Raleigh County
- Clayton-Judson Road Summers County
- Johnstown Road Raleigh County
Campgrounds
- Blue Jay - Camp Creek State Park
- Primitive Camping
- Pipestem Resort State Park
- Mash Fork - Camp Creek State Park
- Bluestone State Park
- Bull Falls - Bluestone Wma
Paddle runs
- Bluestone Dam To Gauley Bridge
- Bluestone Dam To Sandstone
- The U.S. Route 460 Bridge In Glen Lyn, Virginia To The Maximum Summer Pool Elevation Of Bluestone Lake, South Of Hinton, West Virginia
- Meadow Creek Junction To The Route U.S. 19 Bridge
- Jefferson Nf Boundary Near Confluence With Nettle Hollow To Confluence With Laurel Branch
- Jefferson Nf Boundary (Above Cascades Fall) To Jefferson Nf Boundary (Below Cascades Fall)
Track Flat Top Lake 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 Flat Top Lake Dam
Where does the data for Flat Top Lake 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 Flat Top Lake Dam.