Upper Deckers No. 3
Upper Deckers No. 3 is an earth dam located in Preston County, West Virginia, built in 1968. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Upper Deckers No. 3
The primary purpose of Upper Deckers 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 Wvdnr, Wildlife Resources (state). It impounds the Upper Deckers near Masontown.
The dam stands 13 feet tall and stretches 140 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 7 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 54 acre-feet. Completed in 1968, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 01/31/2026.
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Location
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Preston |
| Nearest City | Masontown |
| River/Stream | Upper Deckers |
| Coordinates | 39.52639, -79.80556 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Length | 140 ft |
| Year Completed | 1968 (58 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 54 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 54 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 30 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 7 acres |
| Max Discharge | 1,205 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | WVDNR, WILDLIFE RESOURCES |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 01/31/2026 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WV07708 |
| Federal ID | WV07708 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |