New Cumberland Locks and Dam is a gravity dam located in Jefferson County, West Virginia, built in 1963. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 64 ft64 ft tall and 1,599 ft long, taller than 96% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About New Cumberland Locks and Dam
The primary purpose of New Cumberland Locks and Dam is navigation. The dam maintains water levels sufficient for boat and barge traffic, supporting commercial or recreational navigation on the waterway. The dam is owned by USACE - Pittsburgh District (federal). It impounds the Ohio River near New Cumberland.
The dam stands 64 feet tall and stretches 1,599 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3,840 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 74,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 23,873 square miles. Completed in 1963, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/18/2023.
At 64 feet, this dam is taller than 96% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Jefferson |
| Nearest City | New Cumberland |
| River/Stream | Ohio River |
| Coordinates | 40.52810, -80.62620 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 64 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,599 ft |
| Year Completed | 1963 (63 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 74,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 74,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 74,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3,840 acres |
| Drainage Area | 23,873 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 209,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Navigation |
| Owner | USACE - Pittsburgh District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 07/18/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WV02901 |
| Federal ID | WV02901 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |