Bluestone Dam, also known as Bluestone Lake, is a concrete gravity dam located in Hinton, West Virginia, along the New River.
Wind
Humidity
Completed in 1947, the primary purpose of the dam is flood risk reduction, with additional benefits for fish and wildlife, recreation, and water storage. The dam's structural height reaches 165 feet, with a spillway width of 630 feet to manage extreme storm events.
While Bluestone Dam greatly reduces flood risks downstream, it does not eliminate them entirely. With a high hazard potential, the dam faces rare but possible events that could lead to significant flooding in river-front communities. To address these risks, the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has invested in ongoing construction projects to reinforce critical components like the primary stilling basin to ensure the dam's ability to safely store storm waters and discharge extreme flows.
USACE works closely with federal, state, and local emergency managers to reduce risks to the public, updating emergency action plans, conducting exercises, and monitoring the dam's health. Construction efforts, including new concrete installations and innovative features, are expected to be completed by 2030 to enhance the dam's resilience against extreme events. For more information on construction progress, visit https://www.lrh.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Current-Projects/Bluestone-DSA/.
Year Completed |
1947 |
Dam Length |
2048 |
River Or Stream |
NEW RIVER |
Primary Dam Type |
Concrete |
Surface Area |
2040 |
Hydraulic Height |
152 |
Drainage Area |
4565 |
Nid Storage |
631000 |
Structural Height |
165 |
Outlet Gates |
Slide (sluice gate) - 32, Vertical Lift - 21 |
Hazard Potential |
High |
Foundations |
Rock |
Nid Height |
165 |
Greenbrier River At Hilldale
|
546cfs |
Bluestone River Near Pipestem
|
237cfs |
Greenbrier River At Alderson
|
531cfs |
Piney Creek At Raleigh
|
69cfs |
New River At Glen Lyn
|
1970cfs |
Wolf Creek Near Narrows
|
81cfs |