Daves Fork No.2 is an earth dam located in Mercer County, West Virginia, built in 1959. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 37 ft37 ft tall and 228 ft long, taller than 83% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Daves Fork No.2
The primary purpose of Daves Fork No.2 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 Southern Conservation District (local government). It impounds the Daves Fork near Princeton.
The dam stands 37 feet tall and stretches 228 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 115 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1959, 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 01/31/2024.
At 37 feet, this dam is taller than 83% of dams nationwide.
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 | Mercer |
| Nearest City | Princeton |
| River/Stream | Daves Fork |
| Coordinates | 37.38000, -81.05500 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Length | 228 ft |
| Year Completed | 1959 (67 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 115 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 115 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 5 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,268 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Southern Conservation District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 01/31/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WV05513 |
| Federal ID | WV05513 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |