Chatham Lake Dam
Chatham Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Raleigh County, West Virginia, built in 2003. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Chatham Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Chatham Lake Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Glade Springs Resort (private). It impounds the Sims Branch near Beaver.
The dam stands 64 feet tall and stretches 665 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 69 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,142 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 2003, the structure is relatively new.
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 11/30/2023.
At 64 feet, this dam is taller than 96% 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 | Raleigh |
| Nearest City | Beaver |
| River/Stream | Sims Branch |
| Coordinates | 37.73500, -81.08639 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 64 ft |
| Dam Height | 64 ft |
| Dam Length | 665 ft |
| Year Completed | 2003 (23 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,142 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,142 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,809 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 69 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5,000 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | GLADE SPRINGS RESORT |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/30/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WV08125 |
| Federal ID | WV08125 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |