Bonds Creek Site No. 1 dam
Bonds Creek Site No. 1
Bonds Creek Site No. 1, also known as Tracy Lake or Bonds Creek Lake, is a significant Earth dam located in Ritchie, West Virginia, constructed in 1962 by the USDA NRCS for flood risk reduction along Bonds Creek. The dam stands at a height of 52.8 feet and has a storage capacity of 345 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 154 acre-feet. The dam's primary purpose is flood risk reduction, serving to protect the surrounding area from potential inundation during heavy rainfall events.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, Bonds Creek Site No. 1 poses a significant hazard potential with a satisfactory condition assessment as of 2015. The dam has a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, indicating a need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its continued effectiveness in flood mitigation. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, contributing to its risk profile and the need for a robust emergency action plan to address potential breaches or overflows.
As a key infrastructure asset in the region, Bonds Creek Site No. 1 plays a vital role in protecting the community of Highland and surrounding areas from flood-related disasters. With its strategic location along Bonds Creek and the comprehensive regulatory oversight in place, the dam represents a critical piece of the local water resource management system. Continued inspections, risk assessments, and emergency preparedness efforts are essential to ensure the long-term stability and effectiveness of this important flood control structure.
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 Bonds Creek Site No. 1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Island Creek At Little | 103 cfs | → |
| Little Muskingum River At Bloomfield Oh | 37 cfs | → |
| Ohio River Above Sardis | 27,600 cfs | → |
| Duck Creek Below Whipple Oh | 54 cfs | → |
| Little Kanawha River At Palestine | 216 cfs | → |
| East Fork Duck Creek Near Harrietsville Oh | 37 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bonds Creek Site No. 1.
Boat launches
- County Route 5/6 Ritchie County
- Frontier Boat Launch
- New Matamoras Village Ramp
- West Adams Street Paden City
- Monroe County Park District Ramp
Campgrounds
- North Bend State Park Campground
- Leith Run Recreation Area
- Ring Mill Campground
- Lane Farm Campground
- Lamping Homestead Recreation Area
- Cedar Creek State Park
Fishing spots
Track Bonds Creek Site No. 1 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 Bonds Creek Site No. 1
Where does the data for Bonds Creek Site No. 1 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 Bonds Creek Site No. 1.