Pipestem Lake
Pipestem Lake is an earth dam located in Summers County, West Virginia, built in 1966. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Pipestem Lake
Pipestem Lake is a dam in Summers, West Virginia. The dam is owned by Wvdnr, Parks (state). It impounds the Long Branch near Pipestem.
The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 307 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 17 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 410 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1966, 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 06/30/2025.
At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 87% of dams nationwide.
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 | Summers |
| Nearest City | Pipestem |
| River/Stream | Long Branch |
| Coordinates | 37.53722, -80.98056 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Length | 307 ft |
| Year Completed | 1966 (60 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 410 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 410 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 210 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 17 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | WVDNR, PARKS |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/30/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WV08903 |
| Federal ID | WV08903 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |