Public Safety is the #1 Priority of the US Army Corps of Engineers
Ongoing construction at Bluestone Dam is being conducted to increase the stability of Bluestone Dam and reduce life-safety risks.
Bluestone Dam reduces flood risk throughout the New and Kanawha River Valley all the way to the Ohio River and beyond, including the State Capital of Charleston, West Virginia.
Without further investment, the dam will continue to pose an unacceptable risk of failure, causing catastrophic consequences downstream including significant loss of life, and emptying Bluestone Lake permanently.
Starting 2020, the dam's routine outflow was reduced so that the lake will go out of pool any time flows coming into the lake equals or exceeds 10,000 cubic feet per second.
As a result, Bluestone's Lake level changes more frequently. Meaning boat ramps, parking lots, campgrounds and other features of Bluestone State Park and Wildlife Management Area will flood more often at higher levels and for longer times.
This condition is likely to last throughout the 2020's.
SIGN UP FOR TEXT ALERTS CONCERNING THE LEVEL OF BLUESTONE LAKE
Click or visit the following link:
https://maps.waterdata.usgs.gov/mapper/wateralert/
From there, you can sign up for text and/or email alerts.
As a reminder, Summer Pool (1 Apr-1 Dec) is elevation 1410-11 ft. The boat launch, known as “The Pits” goes under water at elevation 1412 ft
Search for Bluestone Lake in “Search by Place Name” or “03179800” in “Search by Site Number(s)”
Click on the Grey teardrop tab on the map at the location of Bluestone Dam
From there click, "Subscribe to WaterAlert"
Click or visit the link below for current inflow, outflow and lake level information as well as pool references.
http://www.lrh-wc.usace.army.mil/wm/?basin/kan/bln
FORECASTED INFLOWS
Starting in 2020 and through most of the 2020’s, anytime flows coming into Bluestone Lake equals or exceeds 10,000 cubic feet per second, the lake will go out of pool and potentially flood boat launches, parking and even campgrounds.
Today, inflows above 24,000 cubic feet per second have the same effect.
To review a 7 day forecast by the National Weather Service of a potential range of inflows to Bluestone Lake, click or visit the link below:
https://www.weather.gov/erh/mmefs_ohrfc?id=BLUW2&model=NAEFS
At this link, you will find a number of possible inflows to Bluestone Lake as forecasted by the National Weather Service. While there is no guarantee any of these forecasts will or will not occur, it is generally the best way to assess the risk of Bluestone Lake having to go out of its normal pool.
Generally speaking, the forecasts tend to be more accurate the closer to the present day.