Burnsville Dam
Burnsville Dam is a rockfill dam located in Braxton County, West Virginia, built in 1976. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Burnsville Dam
The primary purpose of Burnsville Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Usace - Huntington District (federal). It impounds the Little Kanawha River near Burnsville.
The dam stands 89 feet tall and stretches 1,400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 968 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 65,900 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 165 square miles. Completed in 1976, the structure is 50 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/15/2022.
At 89 feet, this dam is taller than 97% of all dams in the United States.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The West Virginia dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Braxton |
| Nearest City | Burnsville |
| River/Stream | Little Kanawha River |
| Coordinates | 38.84268, -80.62067 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 89 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1976 (50 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 65,900 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 65,900 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 14,400 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 968 acres |
| Drainage Area | 165 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 123,500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Huntington District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 09/15/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WV00707 |
| Federal ID | WV00707 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |