Elk-two Mile No.12 is an earth dam located in Kanawha County, West Virginia, built in 1975. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 66 ft66 ft tall and 181 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 embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Elk-two Mile No.12
The primary purpose of Elk-two Mile No.12 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 Kanawha County Commission (local government). It impounds the Elk-two Mile near Charleston.
The dam stands 66 feet tall and stretches 181 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 233 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1975, 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 10/31/2025.
At 66 feet, this dam is taller than 96% 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 | Kanawha |
| Nearest City | Charleston |
| River/Stream | Elk-two Mile |
| Coordinates | 38.37417, -81.54583 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 66 ft |
| Dam Height | 66 ft |
| Dam Length | 181 ft |
| Year Completed | 1975 (51 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 233 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 233 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 29 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,629 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Kanawha County Commission |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/31/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WV03905 |
| Federal ID | WV03905 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |