Lunice Creek No. 11

Lunice Creek No. 11 is an earth dam located in Grant County, West Virginia, built in 1968. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.

About Lunice Creek No. 11

The primary purpose of Lunice Creek No. 11 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 Potomac Valley Cd (local government). It impounds the Lunice Creek near Petersburg.

The dam stands 84 feet tall and stretches 880 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 8 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 927 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1968, the structure is well into its service life at over 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. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/31/2024.

At 84 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.

High HazardSatisfactory ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Yes

Location

StateWest Virginia
CountyGrant
Nearest CityPetersburg
River/StreamLunice Creek
Coordinates39.14556, -79.20917

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height84 ft
Dam Height84 ft
Dam Length880 ft
Year Completed1968 (58 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage927 acre-ft
Max Storage927 acre-ft
Normal Storage149 acre-ft
Surface Area8 acres
Drainage Area3 sq mi
Max Discharge20,945 cfs
Spillway TypeUncontrolled

Ownership & Safety

PurposeFlood Risk Reduction
OwnerPotomac Valley CD
Owner TypeLocal Government
Hazard ClassificationHigh
Condition AssessmentSatisfactory
Last Inspection10/31/2024
Emergency Action PlanYes

Identifiers

NID IDWV02307
Federal IDWV02307
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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