B & O Dam
B & O Dam is a concrete dam located in Preston County, West Virginia, built in 1904. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About B & O Dam
The primary purpose of B & O Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Town Of Newburg (local government). It impounds the Little Racoon Creek near Newburg.
The dam stands 41 feet tall and stretches 358 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 7 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 105 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1904, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/31/2025.
At 41 feet, this dam is taller than 88% 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 | Preston |
| Nearest City | Newburg |
| River/Stream | Little Racoon Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.37917, -79.83889 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 41 ft |
| Dam Height | 41 ft |
| Dam Length | 358 ft |
| Year Completed | 1904 (122 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 105 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 105 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 81 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 7 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | TOWN OF NEWBURG |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 10/31/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WV07715 |
| Federal ID | WV07715 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |