Ada Dam
Ada Dam is an earth dam located in Mercer County, West Virginia, built in 1924. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Ada Dam
The primary purpose of Ada Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by West Virginia American Water Company (public utility). It impounds the East River near Ada.
The dam stands 62 feet tall and stretches 260 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 15 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 346 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1924, the structure is over a century 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 03/31/2026.
At 62 feet, this dam is taller than 95% 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 | Mercer |
| Nearest City | Ada |
| River/Stream | East River |
| Coordinates | 37.28250, -81.15111 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 62 ft |
| Dam Height | 62 ft |
| Dam Length | 260 ft |
| Year Completed | 1924 (102 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 346 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 346 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 244 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 15 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | WEST VIRGINIA AMERICAN WATER COMPANY |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 03/31/2026 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WV05522 |
| Federal ID | WV05522 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |