East Lynn Dam
East Lynn Dam is an earth dam located in Wayne County, West Virginia, built in 1971. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About East Lynn Dam
The primary purpose of East Lynn 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 Usace - Huntington District (federal). It impounds the East Fk Twelvepole Creek near East Lynn.
The dam stands 113 feet tall and stretches 652 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,005 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 82,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 133 square miles. Completed in 1971, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/02/2021.
At 113 feet, this dam is taller than 98% 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 | Wayne |
| Nearest City | East Lynn |
| River/Stream | East Fk Twelvepole Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.14493, -82.38417 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 113 ft |
| Dam Length | 652 ft |
| Year Completed | 1971 (55 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 82,500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 82,500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 17,190 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,005 acres |
| Drainage Area | 133 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 80,300 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Huntington District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 04/02/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WV09901 |
| Federal ID | WV09901 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |