Lawsons Farm Lake dam
Lawsons Farm Lake
Lawsons Farm Lake, located in Roane, West Virginia, is a privately owned recreational lake regulated by the West Virginia Division of Water and Waste Management. Built in 1970, this earth dam stands at a height of 32 feet and offers a maximum storage capacity of 29.4 acre-feet. With a normal storage level of 23 acre-feet, the lake covers an area of 2 acres and is fed by McKown Creek.
Despite being classified as having an undetermined hazard potential and a condition assessment of "Not Rated," Lawsons Farm Lake remains a popular destination for water resource and climate enthusiasts. The dam has not been modified in recent years and is inspected regularly, with the last inspection taking place in June 2016. The primary purpose of the dam is for recreation, providing opportunities for boating, fishing, and other outdoor activities in the picturesque setting of Stringtown, West Virginia.
Although the dam does not have an Emergency Action Plan prepared or updated, it meets regulatory guidelines and has not been assigned a Dam Safety Action Classification. With its serene surroundings and commitment to safety and maintenance, Lawsons Farm Lake stands as a testament to the importance of responsible water resource management in the face of changing 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 Lawsons Farm Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Elk River At Queen Shoals | 428 cfs | → |
| Pocatalico River At Sissonville | 8 cfs | → |
| W.Fork Little Kanawha River At Rocksdale | 19 cfs | → |
| Elk River At Clay | 11,200 cfs | → |
| Kanawha River At Charleston | 6,100 cfs | → |
| Gauley River Above Belva | 797 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lawsons Farm Lake.
Paddle runs
- The Cora Brown Bridge In Nicholas County To The Confluence With The Elk River In Braxton County
- Begins Below Summersville Lake To The Town Of Swiss
- Upper Gauley - Summersville Dam To Mason Branch
- The Route U.S. 19 Bridge To The Confluence With The Gauley River
- The Junction With Williams River To The Junction With Panther Creek
- Rabbit Run To Private Land .5 Mile From Richwood
Track Lawsons Farm Lake 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 Lawsons Farm Lake
Where does the data for Lawsons Farm Lake 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 Undetermined 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 Lawsons Farm Lake.