Glade Creek Dam No. 1

About Glade Creek Dam No. 1

The primary purpose of Glade Creek Dam No. 1 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 Beckley Water Company (public utility). It impounds the Glade Creek near Shady Spring.

The dam stands 37 feet tall and stretches 340 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 10 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 147 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 26 square miles. Completed in 1945, 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 12/31/2024.

At 37 feet, this dam is taller than 84% 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.

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