Morgantown Lock And Dam
Morgantown Lock And Dam is a gravity dam located in Monongalia County, West Virginia, built in 1950. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
About Morgantown Lock And Dam
The primary purpose of Morgantown Lock And Dam is navigation. The dam maintains water levels sufficient for boat and barge traffic, supporting commercial or recreational navigation on the waterway. The dam is owned by Usace - Pittsburgh District (federal). It impounds the Monongahela River near Morgantown.
The dam stands 36 feet tall and stretches 522 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 365 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 6,200 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2,648 square miles. Completed in 1950, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/19/2025.
At 36 feet, this dam is taller than 83% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Monongalia |
| Nearest City | Morgantown |
| River/Stream | Monongahela River |
| Coordinates | 39.61983, -79.96897 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Length | 522 ft |
| Year Completed | 1950 (76 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 6,200 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 6,200 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 6,200 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 365 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2,648 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 64,200 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Navigation |
| Owner | USACE - Pittsburgh District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 09/19/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WV06106 |
| Federal ID | WV06106 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |