R.d. Bailey Dam
R.d. Bailey Dam is a rockfill dam located in Mingo County, West Virginia, built in 1976. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About R.d. Bailey Dam
The primary purpose of R.d. Bailey 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 Guyandot River near Justice.
The dam stands 310 feet tall and stretches 1,397 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 600 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 203,700 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 540 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 09/21/2023.
At 310 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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 | Mingo |
| Nearest City | Justice |
| River/Stream | Guyandot River |
| Coordinates | 37.59973, -81.82303 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 310 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,397 ft |
| Year Completed | 1976 (50 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 203,700 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 203,700 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 34,300 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 600 acres |
| Drainage Area | 540 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 232,400 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 | 09/21/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WV10924 |
| Federal ID | WV10924 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |