Upper Mud River No.2a
Upper Mud River No.2a is a rockfill dam located in Lincoln County, West Virginia, built in 1992. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Upper Mud River No.2a
The primary purpose of Upper Mud River No.2a 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 Lincoln County Commission (local government). It impounds the Mud River near Hamlin.
The dam stands 75 feet tall and stretches 551 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 306 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 25,470 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 51 square miles. Completed in 1992, the structure is 34 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 08/31/2025.
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 | Lincoln |
| Nearest City | Hamlin |
| River/Stream | Mud River |
| Coordinates | 38.16583, -82.05833 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 75 ft |
| Dam Height | 75 ft |
| Dam Length | 551 ft |
| Year Completed | 1992 (34 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 25,470 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 25,470 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 4,631 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 306 acres |
| Drainage Area | 51 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 85,389 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | LINCOLN COUNTY COMMISSION |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/31/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WV04307 |
| Federal ID | WV04307 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |