Winfield Locks and Dam is a concrete dam located in Putnam County, West Virginia, built in 1937. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 110 ft110 ft tall and 985 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 Winfield Locks and Dam
The primary purpose of Winfield 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 Kanawha River near Midway.
The dam stands 110 feet tall and stretches 985 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3,100 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 79,100 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 11,813 square miles. Completed in 1937, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 08/07/2020.
At 110 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Putnam |
| Nearest City | Midway |
| River/Stream | Kanawha River |
| Coordinates | 38.52659, -81.91307 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 110 ft |
| Dam Length | 985 ft |
| Year Completed | 1937 (89 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 79,100 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 79,100 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 79,100 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3,100 acres |
| Drainage Area | 11,813 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 17,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Navigation |
| Owner | USACE - Huntington District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 08/07/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WV07903 |
| Federal ID | WV07903 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |