Beech Fork Dam
Beech Fork Dam is an earth dam located in Wayne County, West Virginia, built in 1976. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Beech Fork Dam
The primary purpose of Beech Fork 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 Beech Fork Of Twelve Pole Ck. near Lavalette.
The dam stands 86 feet tall and stretches 1,080 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 720 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 37,540 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 78 square miles. Completed in 1976, the structure is 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 07/18/2024.
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 | Wayne |
| Nearest City | Lavalette |
| River/Stream | Beech Fork Of Twelve Pole Ck. |
| Coordinates | 38.30404, -82.41607 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 86 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,080 ft |
| Year Completed | 1976 (50 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 37,540 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 37,540 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 9,180 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 720 acres |
| Drainage Area | 78 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 29,500 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 | 07/18/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WV09903 |
| Federal ID | WV09903 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |