Tygart Dam dam
Tygart Dam
Tygart Dam, also known as Tygart Lake, is a gravity dam located on the Tygart River in Grafton, West Virginia. Built by the US Army Corps of Engineers in 1938, the dam serves primarily for flood risk reduction, but also supports fish and wildlife habitats, navigation, recreation, and water supply purposes. With a hydraulic height of 234 feet and a structural height of 234 feet, the dam has a maximum storage capacity of 355,000 acre-feet and a normal storage capacity of 99,900 acre-feet.
The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 489 feet and outlet gates including 18 slide (sluice) gates and 2 valves. Despite the high hazard potential, the dam's risk management measures include regular inspections, maintenance, and emergency preparedness efforts by the US Army Corps of Engineers. These actions aim to mitigate flood risks associated with the dam and ensure its structural integrity in the face of severe weather events or increased water levels. Overall, Tygart Dam remains a vital infrastructure for water resource management and climate resilience in the region.
As part of ongoing efforts to address flood risks, the US Army Corps of Engineers continually monitors the dam's condition, prioritizes risk-reducing activities, and collaborates with local emergency managers to prepare for potential dam-related emergencies. With a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, the dam's risk management strategy focuses on proactive measures to safeguard the surrounding communities and water resources. As more information becomes available, additional details specific to Tygart Dam will be added to enhance risk awareness and response readiness.
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 Tygart Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Tygart Valley R At Tygart Dam Nr Grafton | 787 cfs | → |
| Three Fork Creek Nr Grafton | 156 cfs | → |
| Tygart Valley River At Colfax | 847 cfs | → |
| Tygart Valley River At Philippi | 453 cfs | → |
| West Fork River At Enterprise | 368 cfs | → |
| Buffalo Creek At Barrackville | 140 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Tygart Dam.
Boat launches
- Beverly-Fairmont Pike Philippi
- Mon River Trail South Marion County
- Caperton Trail 371, Star City
- Madison Street Buckhannon
- Mon River Trail North Monongalia County
- Point Marion
Campgrounds
- Tygart Lake State Park
- Audra State Park
- Horseshoe Recreation And Campground Area
- Coopers Rock State Forest
- Mason - Dixon Historical Park
- Chestnut Ridge Regional Park
Fishing spots
- Snowy Creek
- Bruceton Mills Public Fishing Area
- Dry Fork
- Broadford Lake
- Deep Creek Lake
- Little Youghiogheny River Reservoir
Track Tygart 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 Tygart Dam
Where does the data for Tygart 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 Tygart Dam.