Laurel Creek Lake No.1

About Laurel Creek Lake No.1

The primary purpose of Laurel Creek Lake No.1 is fish and wildlife pond. The dam creates habitat for fish and wildlife, supporting local ecosystems and potentially serving conservation goals. The dam is owned by Wvdnr, Wildlife Resources (state). It impounds the Laurel Fork near Canterbury.

The dam stands 47 feet tall and stretches 325 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 27 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 785 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 10 square miles. Completed in 1960, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/31/2025.

At 47 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.

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