Jimmy Lewis Dam
Jimmy Lewis Dam is an earth dam located in Mercer County, West Virginia, built in 1965. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Jimmy Lewis Dam
The primary purpose of Jimmy Lewis Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Wvdnr, Parks (state). It impounds the Bluestone River near Bluestone.
The dam stands 33 feet tall and stretches 320 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 18 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 524 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1965, 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 06/30/2024.
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 | Mercer |
| Nearest City | Bluestone |
| River/Stream | Bluestone River |
| Coordinates | 37.30500, -81.29500 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Length | 320 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 524 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 524 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 130 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 18 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | WVDNR, PARKS |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/30/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WV05521 |
| Federal ID | WV05521 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |