Lakeview Dam

Lakeview Dam is an earth dam located in Cabell County, West Virginia, built in 1965. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.

Hazard potentialHighFailure would probably cost lives
ConditionSatisfactoryBest of 4 ratings
Emergency action planOn file
Last inspection12/31/2025
Height35 ft
Built196561 years ago

Dam profile

NID height · 35 ft
35 FT TWO-STORY HOUSEMEDIAN U.S. DAM · 24 FT

35 ft tall and 265 ft long, taller than 80% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.

About Lakeview Dam

The primary purpose of Lakeview Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Fred Ward (private). It impounds the Tr Tom Creek near Martha.

The dam stands 35 feet tall and stretches 265 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 53 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1965, 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 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 12/31/2025.

At 35 feet, this dam is taller than 80% 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

StateWest Virginia
CountyCabell
Nearest CityMartha
River/StreamTr Tom Creek
Coordinates38.39278, -82.25306

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height35 ft
Dam Height35 ft
Dam Length265 ft
Year Completed1965 (61 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage53 acre-ft
Max Storage53 acre-ft
Normal Storage35 acre-ft
Surface Area2 acres
Drainage Area0 sq mi
Max Discharge978 cfs

Ownership & Safety

PurposeRecreation
OwnerFred Ward
Owner TypePrivate
Hazard ClassificationHigh
Condition AssessmentSatisfactory
Last Inspection12/31/2025
Emergency Action PlanYes

Identifiers

NID IDWV01104
Federal IDWV01104
More InfoState Dam Safety Program