Schellhas Dam dam
Schellhas Dam
Schellhas Dam, located in Pennsboro, West Virginia, is a privately owned structure regulated by the state's Division of Water and Waste Management. This Earth-type dam stands at a height of 40.5 feet and has a storage capacity of 243 acre-feet. The dam, built on Spring Run, serves a primary purpose of "Other" and has a normal storage capacity of 68.95 acre-feet.
With a hazard potential rated as "High" and a fair condition assessment as of October 2015, Schellhas Dam poses significant risks to the surrounding area in case of failure. Regular inspections are conducted every two years to ensure the safety and integrity of the structure. While there are no associated structures or locks, the dam is vital for water resource management in the region.
Located in Ritchie County, Schellhas Dam is a key component of the water infrastructure in the area. Climate and water resource enthusiasts will appreciate the technical details of this dam and its importance in maintaining water supply and management in West Virginia. Despite its high hazard potential, ongoing inspections and regulatory oversight help to mitigate potential risks associated with this essential Earth-type dam.
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 Schellhas Dam -- 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 | → |
| Little Kanawha River At Palestine | 216 cfs | → |
| Duck Creek Below Whipple Oh | 54 cfs | → |
| W.F. River At Butcherville | 58 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Schellhas Dam.
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
- Lane Farm Campground
- Ring Mill Campground
- Cedar Creek State Park
- Lamping Homestead Recreation Area
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Schellhas 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 Schellhas Dam
Where does the data for Schellhas 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 Schellhas Dam.