Lake O' Woods Dam
Lake O' Woods Dam is a rockfill dam located in Preston County, West Virginia, built in 1938. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake O' Woods Dam
The primary purpose of Lake O' Woods Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Lake O'woods Club, Inc. (private). It impounds the Patterson Run near Laurel Run.
The dam stands 26 feet tall and stretches 460 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 82 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,580 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1938, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/30/2025.
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 | Preston |
| Nearest City | Laurel Run |
| River/Stream | Patterson Run |
| Coordinates | 39.56556, -79.80444 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Length | 460 ft |
| Year Completed | 1938 (88 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,580 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,580 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 82 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 13,000 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | LAKE O'WOODS CLUB, INC. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/30/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WV07703 |
| Federal ID | WV07703 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |