South Fork No. 1 Dam is an earth dam located in Hardy County, West Virginia, built in 1963. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 122 ft122 ft tall and 778 ft long, taller than 98% 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 embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About South Fork No. 1 Dam
The primary purpose of South Fork No. 1 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 Potomac Valley Cd (local government). It impounds the Shook's Run near Moorefield.
The dam stands 122 feet tall and stretches 778 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 11 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,696 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 square miles. Completed in 1963, 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 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 09/30/2024.
At 122 feet, this dam is taller than 98% 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 | Hardy |
| Nearest City | Moorefield |
| River/Stream | Shook's Run |
| Coordinates | 38.93611, -78.99222 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 122 ft |
| Dam Height | 122 ft |
| Dam Length | 778 ft |
| Year Completed | 1963 (63 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,696 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,696 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 128 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 11 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 12,225 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 | 09/30/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WV03103 |
| Federal ID | WV03103 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |