Conaway Run Public Fishing Area is an earth dam located in Tyler County, West Virginia, built in 1963. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 40 ft40 ft tall and 445 ft long, taller than 86% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Conaway Run Public Fishing Area
The primary purpose of Conaway Run Public Fishing Area is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Wvdnr, Wildlife Resources (state). It impounds the Conaway Run near Tyler.
The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 445 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 30 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 485 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 922 square miles. Completed in 1963, 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 01/31/2026.
At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 86% 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 | Tyler |
| Nearest City | Tyler |
| River/Stream | Conaway Run |
| Coordinates | 39.42028, -80.84722 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Length | 445 ft |
| Year Completed | 1963 (63 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 485 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 485 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 330 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 30 acres |
| Drainage Area | 922 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Wvdnr, Wildlife Resources |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 01/31/2026 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WV09501 |
| Federal ID | WV09501 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |