Brush Creek No. 19a
Brush Creek No. 19a is an earth dam located in Mercer County, West Virginia, built in 1975. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Brush Creek No. 19a
The primary purpose of Brush Creek No. 19a 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 City Of Bluefield (local government). It impounds the Middle Fork near Princeton.
The dam stands 48 feet tall and stretches 866 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 68 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,283 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 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 07/31/2024.
At 48 feet, this dam is taller than 92% 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 | Middle Fork |
| Coordinates | 37.30556, -81.16556 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 48 ft |
| Dam Height | 48 ft |
| Dam Length | 866 ft |
| Year Completed | 1975 (51 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,283 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,283 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 986 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 68 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 7,257 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | CITY OF BLUEFIELD |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/31/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WV05531 |
| Federal ID | WV05531 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |