Willow Island Locks and Dam is a concrete dam located in Pleasants County, West Virginia, built in 1976. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 111 ft111 ft tall and 1,475 ft long, taller than 98% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Willow Island Locks and Dam
The primary purpose of Willow 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 - Huntington District (federal). It impounds the Ohio River near Waverly.
The dam stands 111 feet tall and stretches 1,475 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 6,400 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 177,600 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 26,900 square miles. Completed in 1976, the structure is 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. The most recent inspection on record was 06/07/2024.
At 111 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Pleasants |
| Nearest City | Waverly |
| River/Stream | Ohio River |
| Coordinates | 39.35926, -81.31931 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 111 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,475 ft |
| Year Completed | 1976 (50 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 177,600 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 177,600 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 177,600 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 6,400 acres |
| Drainage Area | 26,900 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 46,800 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Navigation |
| Owner | USACE - Huntington District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 06/07/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WV07301 |
| Federal ID | WV07301 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |