Newpage Westvaco Dam is a gravity dam located in Allegany County, Maryland, built in 1913. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 7 ft7 ft tall and 407 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Newpage Westvaco Dam
The primary purpose of Newpage Westvaco Dam 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 Verso Corporation (private). It impounds the Potomac River near Luke.
The dam stands 7 feet tall and stretches 407 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 60 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 404 square miles. Completed in 1913, the structure is over a century 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. The most recent inspection on record was 08/30/2021.
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Location
| State | Maryland |
| County | Allegany |
| Nearest City | Luke |
| River/Stream | Potomac River |
| Coordinates | 39.47220, -79.06060 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 7 ft |
| Dam Height | 7 ft |
| Dam Length | 407 ft |
| Year Completed | 1913 (113 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 60 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 60 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 50 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1 acres |
| Drainage Area | 404 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,262 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Verso Corporation |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 08/30/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MD00292 |
| Federal ID | MD00292 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |