Hawks Nest is a concrete dam located in Fayette County, West Virginia, built in 1936. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 163 ft163 ft tall and 948 ft long, taller than 99% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against the Statue of Liberty, 305 ft ground to torch; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Hawks Nest
The primary purpose of Hawks Nest is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Brookfield Renewable Power LLC Nyro (private). It impounds the New River near Gauley Bridge.
The dam stands 163 feet tall and stretches 948 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 243 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 7,323 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6,856 square miles. Completed in 1936, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 06/22/2022.
At 163 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 | Fayette |
| Nearest City | Gauley Bridge |
| River/Stream | New River |
| Coordinates | 38.11840, -81.13150 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 163 ft |
| Dam Height | 85 ft |
| Dam Length | 948 ft |
| Year Completed | 1936 (90 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 7,323 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 7,323 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 7,080 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 243 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6,856 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 335,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Brookfield Renewable Power LLC Nyro |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/22/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WV01901 |
| Federal ID | WV01901 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |