Upper Grave No.3

Upper Grave No.3 is an earth dam located in Marshall County, West Virginia, built in 1958. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.

About Upper Grave No.3

The primary purpose of Upper Grave No.3 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 Cameron (local government). It impounds the Grave Creek near Cameron.

The dam stands 46 feet tall and stretches 230 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 0 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 55 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1958, 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 05/31/2024.

At 46 feet, this dam is taller than 91% 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.

High HazardSatisfactory ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Yes

Location

StateWest Virginia
CountyMarshall
Nearest CityCameron
River/StreamGrave Creek
Coordinates39.83222, -80.56778

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height46 ft
Dam Height46 ft
Dam Length230 ft
Year Completed1958 (68 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage55 acre-ft
Max Storage55 acre-ft
Normal Storage3 acre-ft
Surface Area0 acres
Drainage Area0 sq mi
Max Discharge1,520 cfs
Spillway TypeUncontrolled

Ownership & Safety

PurposeFlood Risk Reduction
OwnerCITY OF CAMERON
Owner TypeLocal Government
Hazard ClassificationHigh
Condition AssessmentSatisfactory
Last Inspection05/31/2024
Emergency Action PlanYes

Identifiers

NID IDWV05105
Federal IDWV05105
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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