Sutton Dam
Sutton Dam is a gravity dam located in Braxton County, West Virginia, built in 1960. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Sutton Dam
The primary purpose of Sutton Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Usace - Huntington District (federal). It impounds the Elk River near Sutton.
The dam stands 210 feet tall and stretches 1,178 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,520 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 265,300 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 537 square miles. Completed in 1960, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/24/2024.
At 210 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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 | Braxton |
| Nearest City | Sutton |
| River/Stream | Elk River |
| Coordinates | 38.66160, -80.69294 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 210 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,178 ft |
| Year Completed | 1960 (66 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 265,300 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 265,300 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 60,100 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,520 acres |
| Drainage Area | 537 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 222,240 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Huntington District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 10/24/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WV00701 |
| Federal ID | WV00701 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |