N & S Mill Creek Site No. 7
N & S Mill Creek Site No. 7 is a rockfill dam located in Grant County, West Virginia, built in 1993. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About N & S Mill Creek Site No. 7
The primary purpose of N & S Mill Creek Site No. 7 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 Potomac Valley Cd (local government). It impounds the South Mill Creek near Dorcas.
The dam stands 75 feet tall and stretches 1,118 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 48 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,263 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 9 square miles. Completed in 1993, the structure is 33 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/31/2024.
At 75 feet, this dam is taller than 97% 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 | Grant |
| Nearest City | Dorcas |
| River/Stream | South Mill Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.85472, -79.16417 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 75 ft |
| Dam Height | 75 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,118 ft |
| Year Completed | 1993 (33 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,263 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,263 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 862 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 48 acres |
| Drainage Area | 9 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 43,960 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Potomac Valley CD |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 10/31/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WV02331 |
| Federal ID | WV02331 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |