Summersville Dam - Dike 2
Summersville Dam - Dike 2 is an earth dam located in Nicholas County, West Virginia, built in 1965. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Summersville Dam - Dike 2
The primary purpose of Summersville Dam - Dike 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 Usace - Huntington District (federal). It impounds the Gauley River near Summersville.
The dam stands 100 feet tall and stretches 3,320 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 283,400 acre-feet. Completed in 1965, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/25/2022.
At 100 feet, this dam is taller than 98% 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 | Nicholas |
| Nearest City | Summersville |
| River/Stream | Gauley River |
| Coordinates | 38.23234, -80.91014 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 100 ft |
| Dam Height | 100 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,320 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 283,400 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 283,400 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 61,540 acre-ft |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Huntington District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 08/25/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WV06702 |
| Federal ID | WV06702S002 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |