Big Ditch Lake No. 1 dam
Big Ditch Lake No. 1
Big Ditch Lake No. 1 is a key water resource located in Webster, West Virginia, designed by the USDA NRCS in 1968 for flood risk reduction along the Long Glade Ditch. This earth dam stands at a height of 24.3 feet and has a storage capacity of 1075 acre-feet, with a surface area of 100 acres and a drainage area of 1.17 square miles. The dam serves multiple purposes including flood risk reduction and recreation, making it an essential asset for the local community in Welch Glade.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, the dam is classified as having a significant hazard potential with fair condition assessment as of April 2018. Despite its age, the dam is regularly inspected every two years to ensure its structural integrity and safety. While the risk assessment for Big Ditch Lake No. 1 is moderate, proper risk management measures are in place to address any potential concerns and maintain the dam's functionality for the surrounding area.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Big Ditch Lake No. 1 represents a significant infrastructure designed to mitigate flood risks and provide recreational opportunities in the region. With its strategic location and vital role in water management, this dam serves as a testament to the importance of proactive infrastructure planning and maintenance to safeguard communities from natural disasters and ensure sustainable 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 Big Ditch Lake No. 1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Williams River At Dyer | 76 cfs | → |
| Cranberry River Near Richwood | 43 cfs | → |
| Gauley River Near Craigsville | 329 cfs | → |
| Elk River Below Webster Springs | 209 cfs | → |
| Birch River At Herold | 11 cfs | → |
| L Kanawha River Nr Wildcat | 32 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Big Ditch Lake No. 1.
Boat launches
- Summit Lake Trail No 201 Greenbrier County
- Persinger Ford Road Nicholas County
- Braxton County
- Us 19;Wv 41 Summersville
- State Street Gassaway
- County Route 19/32 Nicholas County
Campgrounds
Paddle runs
- The Junction With Williams River To The Junction With Panther Creek
- Three Forks To Spice Run
- The U.S. Forest Service Cranberry Campground To The Confluence With The Gauley River
- Rabbit Run To Private Land .5 Mile From Richwood
- The Cora Brown Bridge In Nicholas County To The Confluence With The Elk River In Braxton County
- Darnell Run To Rabbit Run
Track Big Ditch Lake 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 Big Ditch Lake No. 1
Where does the data for Big Ditch Lake 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 Big Ditch Lake No. 1.