Wheeling Creek #3
Wheeling Creek #3 is a rockfill dam located in Marshall County, West Virginia, built in 1995. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Wheeling Creek #3
The primary purpose of Wheeling Creek #3 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 Wheeling Creek Watershed Commission (local government). It impounds the Tr-wheeling Ck near Viola.
The dam stands 85 feet tall and stretches 1,015 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 31 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 18,953 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 76 square miles. Completed in 1995, the structure is 31 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 11/30/2022.
At 85 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 | Marshall |
| Nearest City | Viola |
| River/Stream | Tr-wheeling Ck |
| Coordinates | 39.95167, -80.52500 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 85 ft |
| Dam Height | 85 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,015 ft |
| Year Completed | 1995 (31 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 18,953 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 18,953 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 778 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 31 acres |
| Drainage Area | 76 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 153,123 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | WHEELING CREEK WATERSHED COMMISSION |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/30/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WV05120 |
| Federal ID | WV05120 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |