Horse Creek Dam #1
Horse Creek Dam #1 is an earth dam located in Wyoming County, West Virginia, built in 1956. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Horse Creek Dam #1
The primary purpose of Horse Creek Dam #1 is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Wvdnr, Wildlife Resources (state). It impounds the Guyandotte River near Simon.
The dam stands 46 feet tall and stretches 350 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 7 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 277 acre-feet. Completed in 1956, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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 01/31/2026.
At 46 feet, this dam is taller than 91% 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 | Wyoming |
| Nearest City | Simon |
| River/Stream | Guyandotte River |
| Coordinates | 37.57472, -81.71000 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 46 ft |
| Dam Height | 46 ft |
| Dam Length | 350 ft |
| Year Completed | 1956 (70 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 277 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 277 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 144 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 7 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | WVDNR, WILDLIFE RESOURCES |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 01/31/2026 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WV10901 |
| Federal ID | WV10901 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |