Pike Island Locks And Dam
Pike Island Locks And Dam is a gravity dam located in Ohio County, West Virginia, built in 1965. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
About Pike Island Locks And Dam
The primary purpose of Pike Island Locks 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 Ohio River near Wheeling.
The dam stands 64 feet tall and stretches 1,600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5,140 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 89,300 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 24,639 square miles. Completed in 1965, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/05/2023.
At 64 feet, this dam is taller than 96% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Ohio |
| Nearest City | Wheeling |
| River/Stream | Ohio River |
| Coordinates | 40.15020, -80.70264 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 64 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 89,300 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 89,300 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 89,300 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5,140 acres |
| Drainage Area | 24,639 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 197,500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Navigation |
| Owner | USACE - Pittsburgh District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 09/05/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WV06908 |
| Federal ID | WV06908 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |