Horton Dam
Horton Dam is a buttress dam located in Mercer County, West Virginia, built in 1929. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Horton Dam
The primary purpose of Horton 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 Bluefield.
The dam stands 76 feet tall and stretches 269 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 16 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 432 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1929, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 76 feet, this dam is taller than 97% 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 | Bluefield |
| River/Stream | East River |
| Coordinates | 37.27972, -81.17583 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Buttress |
| NID Height | 76 ft |
| Dam Height | 76 ft |
| Dam Length | 269 ft |
| Year Completed | 1929 (97 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 432 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 432 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 384 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 16 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 | WV05523 |
| Federal ID | WV05523 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |