Glen Ferris

Glen Ferris is a concrete dam located in Fayette County, West Virginia, built in 1901. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.

About Glen Ferris

The primary purpose of Glen Ferris is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. It impounds the Kanawha River near Kanawha Falls.

The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 2,850 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 397 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,501 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 8,340 square miles. Completed in 1901, the structure is over a century old.

This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 08/09/2021.

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Low HazardSatisfactory ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Not Required

Location

StateWest Virginia
CountyFayette
Nearest CityKanawha Falls
River/StreamKanawha River
Coordinates38.15080, -81.21310

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeConcrete
NID Height25 ft
Dam Height12 ft
Dam Length2,850 ft
Year Completed1901 (125 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage1,501 acre-ft
Max Storage1,501 acre-ft
Normal Storage1,501 acre-ft
Surface Area397 acres
Drainage Area8,340 sq mi
Max Discharge106,000 cfs
Spillway TypeUncontrolled

Ownership & Safety

PurposeHydroelectric
Owner TypeNot Listed
Hazard ClassificationLow
Condition AssessmentSatisfactory
Last Inspection08/09/2021
Emergency Action PlanNot Required

Identifiers

NID IDWV01911
Federal IDWV01911
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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