Fresh Water Dam

Fresh Water Dam is an earth dam located in Wayne County, West Virginia. It carries a High hazard potential classification.

About Fresh Water Dam

The primary purpose of Fresh Water Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Lexington Coal Company, Llc (private).

The dam stands 61 feet tall and stretches 650 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 319 acre-feet.

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.

At 61 feet, this dam is taller than 95% 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.

High HazardNot Available ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Yes

Location

StateWest Virginia
CountyWayne
Nearest CityEast Lynn
Coordinates38.15833, -82.31861

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height61 ft
Dam Height61 ft
Dam Length650 ft

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage319 acre-ft
Max Storage319 acre-ft

Ownership & Safety

PurposeWater Supply
OwnerLexington Coal Company, LLC
Owner TypePrivate
Hazard ClassificationHigh
Condition AssessmentNot Available
Emergency Action PlanYes

Identifiers

NID IDWV83544
Federal IDWV83544
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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