North Fork Hughes River Site 21c Dam
North Fork Hughes River Site 21c Dam is an other dam located in Ritchie County, West Virginia, built in 2002. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About North Fork Hughes River Site 21c Dam
The primary purpose of North Fork Hughes River Site 21c Dam 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 Little Kanawha Conservation District (local government). It impounds the North Fork near Cairo.
The dam stands 86 feet tall and stretches 964 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 305 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 44,232 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 92 square miles. Completed in 2002, the structure is relatively new.
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 06/30/2024.
At 86 feet, this dam is taller than 97% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Ritchie |
| Nearest City | Cairo |
| River/Stream | North Fork |
| Coordinates | 39.21944, -81.09917 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Other |
| NID Height | 86 ft |
| Dam Height | 86 ft |
| Dam Length | 964 ft |
| Year Completed | 2002 (24 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 44,232 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 44,232 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,812 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 305 acres |
| Drainage Area | 92 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 132,624 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Little Kanawha Conservation District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/30/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WV08512 |
| Federal ID | WV08512 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |