Turkey Run Lake
Turkey Run Lake is an earth dam located in Jackson County, West Virginia, built in 1964. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Turkey Run Lake
The primary purpose of Turkey Run Lake is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Wvdnr, Wildlife Resources (state). It impounds the Turkey Run near Ravenswood.
The dam stands 33 feet tall and stretches 1,000 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 340 acre-feet. Completed in 1964, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 01/31/2026.
At 33 feet, this dam is taller than 78% of dams nationwide.
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 | Jackson |
| Nearest City | Ravenswood |
| River/Stream | Turkey Run |
| Coordinates | 38.96611, -81.77333 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1964 (62 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 340 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 340 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 64 acre-ft |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | WVDNR, WILDLIFE RESOURCES |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 01/31/2026 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WV03519 |
| Federal ID | WV03519 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |