Stonewall Jackson Dam
Stonewall Jackson Dam is a gravity dam located in Lewis County, West Virginia, built in 1986. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Stonewall Jackson Dam
The primary purpose of Stonewall Jackson 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 - Pittsburgh District (federal). It impounds the West Fork near Brownsville.
The dam stands 95 feet tall and stretches 620 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2,630 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 145,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 102 square miles. Completed in 1986, the structure is 40 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 09/27/2022.
At 95 feet, this dam is taller than 98% 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 | Lewis |
| Nearest City | Brownsville |
| River/Stream | West Fork |
| Coordinates | 39.00338, -80.47424 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 95 ft |
| Dam Length | 620 ft |
| Year Completed | 1986 (40 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 145,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 145,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 48,170 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2,630 acres |
| Drainage Area | 102 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 48,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Pittsburgh District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 09/27/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WV04114 |
| Federal ID | WV04114 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |