Upper Deckers No. 7
Upper Deckers No. 7 is an earth dam located in Preston County, West Virginia, built in 1968. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Upper Deckers No. 7
The primary purpose of Upper Deckers No. 7 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 Wvdnr, Wildlife Resources (state). It impounds the Deckers Creek near Masontown.
The dam stands 13 feet tall and stretches 544 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 10 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 124 acre-feet. Completed in 1968, 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. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 01/31/2026.
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 | Masontown |
| River/Stream | Deckers Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.52250, -79.80167 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Length | 544 ft |
| Year Completed | 1968 (58 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 124 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 124 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 53 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 10 acres |
| Max Discharge | 1,376 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | WVDNR, WILDLIFE RESOURCES |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 01/31/2026 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WV07712 |
| Federal ID | WV07712 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |