Lake Dickenson Dam
Lake Dickenson Dam is an earth dam located in Putnam County, West Virginia, built in 1955. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Dickenson Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Dickenson Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Fmc Sportsmans Club (private). It impounds the Tr Of Long Brnch Of Poplar Frk near Black Lick School.
The dam stands 27 feet tall and stretches 368 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 7 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 76 acre-feet. Completed in 1955, 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 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 09/03/2024.
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 | Putnam |
| Nearest City | Black Lick School |
| River/Stream | Tr Of Long Brnch Of Poplar Frk |
| Coordinates | 38.49778, -81.93964 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Length | 368 ft |
| Year Completed | 1955 (71 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 76 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 76 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 43 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 7 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | FMC SPORTSMANS CLUB |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/03/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WV07902 |
| Federal ID | WV07902 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |