Bluestone Lake
Encyclopedia
Bluestone Lake is a flood control
reservoir
located on the New River near Hinton
, West Virginia
. At its normal pool level, Bluestone Dam impounds a 10.7 miles (17.2 km) stretch of the New and its tributary, the Bluestone River
. Normally approximately 2040 acres (8.3 km²) in size, the lake can grow to over 36 miles (57.9 km) long at flood control pool. At higher water levels, the lake extends into Giles County
, Virginia
.
Rivers. The dam is 165 feet (50.3 m) high and 2048 feet (624.2 m) long. The dam was authorized Presidential Executive Order in 1935 and approved by the U.S. Congress in the Flood Control Acts of 1936 and 1938. Construction of the project was begun in early 1941, suspended in 1944 because of World War II
. Work resumed in 1946, and completed for operational purposes in 1949.
In recent years, it was discovered that Bluestone Dam would be unable to pass the Probable Maximum Flood possible at the site, which could cause failure of the dam. To remedy the problem, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has undertaken a Dam Safety Assurance program for Bluestone. The DSA project includes raising the dam by 8 feet (2.4 m), installing anchors and thrust blocks to tie the dam into bedrock, spillway improvements and other work. The first phase of the project was completed in October 2004. The second phase, installing bedrock anchors, is underway as of March 2010 and expected to be finished in 2011. Three additional phases remain to be constructed.
operates Bluestone State Park
and Bluestone Wildlife Management Area, each encompassing portions of the lake. Camping and other activities are available in these facilities.
Flood control
In communications, flood control is a feature of many communication protocols designed to prevent overwhelming of a destination receiver. Such controls can be implemented either in software or in hardware, and will often request that the message be resent after the receiver has finished...
reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
located on the New River near Hinton
Hinton, West Virginia
Hinton is a city in Summers County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,880 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Summers County. Hinton was established in 1873 and chartered in 1897. Hinton was named for John "Jack" Hinton, a prominent lawyer of Summers County and husband of...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. At its normal pool level, Bluestone Dam impounds a 10.7 miles (17.2 km) stretch of the New and its tributary, the Bluestone River
Bluestone River
The Bluestone River is a tributary of the New River, 77 mi long, in southwestern Virginia and southern West Virginia in the United States. Via the New, Kanawha and Ohio Rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River...
. Normally approximately 2040 acres (8.3 km²) in size, the lake can grow to over 36 miles (57.9 km) long at flood control pool. At higher water levels, the lake extends into Giles County
Giles County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,657 people, 6,994 households, and 4,888 families residing in the county. The population density was 47 people per square mile . There were 7,732 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
.
Bluestone Dam
The lake is formed by Bluestone Dam, a concrete gravity dam located just upstream of the confluence of the New and GreenbrierGreenbrier River
The Greenbrier River is a tributary of the New River, long, in southeastern West Virginia, USA. Via the New, Kanawha and Ohio Rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River, draining an area of...
Rivers. The dam is 165 feet (50.3 m) high and 2048 feet (624.2 m) long. The dam was authorized Presidential Executive Order in 1935 and approved by the U.S. Congress in the Flood Control Acts of 1936 and 1938. Construction of the project was begun in early 1941, suspended in 1944 because of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Work resumed in 1946, and completed for operational purposes in 1949.
In recent years, it was discovered that Bluestone Dam would be unable to pass the Probable Maximum Flood possible at the site, which could cause failure of the dam. To remedy the problem, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has undertaken a Dam Safety Assurance program for Bluestone. The DSA project includes raising the dam by 8 feet (2.4 m), installing anchors and thrust blocks to tie the dam into bedrock, spillway improvements and other work. The first phase of the project was completed in October 2004. The second phase, installing bedrock anchors, is underway as of March 2010 and expected to be finished in 2011. Three additional phases remain to be constructed.
Recreation
Due to its large size, Bluestone Lake provides many recreational opportunities including boating and fishing. The West Virginia Division of Natural ResourcesWest Virginia Division of Natural Resources
The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources is an agency of the government of the U.S. state of West Virginia. While formerly known as the cabinet-level Department of Natural Resources, it is now part of the West Virginia Department of Commerce...
operates Bluestone State Park
Bluestone State Park
Bluestone State Park is a state park in Summers County, West Virginia. The park is located along the western shores of Bluestone Lake, an impoundment of the New River built and managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers...
and Bluestone Wildlife Management Area, each encompassing portions of the lake. Camping and other activities are available in these facilities.
See also
- Bluestone State ParkBluestone State ParkBluestone State Park is a state park in Summers County, West Virginia. The park is located along the western shores of Bluestone Lake, an impoundment of the New River built and managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers...
- Bluestone Wildlife Management Area
- New River