Anderson Dam
Anderson Dam is an earth dam located in Kanawha County, West Virginia, built in 1984. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Anderson Dam
The primary purpose of Anderson 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 City Of Dunbar (local government). It impounds the Dutch Hollow near Dunbar.
The dam stands 39 feet tall and stretches 300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 87 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1984, the structure is 42 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 05/31/2022.
At 39 feet, this dam is taller than 86% 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 | Kanawha |
| Nearest City | Dunbar |
| River/Stream | Dutch Hollow |
| Coordinates | 38.38250, -81.73306 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 39 ft |
| Dam Height | 39 ft |
| Dam Length | 300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1984 (42 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 87 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 87 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 65 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | CITY OF DUNBAR |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/31/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WV03926 |
| Federal ID | WV03926 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |