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| Summersville Dam | |
|---|---|
 Summersville Lake | |
  Summersville Dam Location of Summersville Dam in West Virginia Show map of West Virginia Summersville Dam Summersville Dam (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Country | United States |
| Location | Nicholas County, nearSummersville,West Virginia |
| Coordinates | 38°13′23″N80°53′26″W / 38.22306°N 80.89056°W /38.22306; -80.89056 |
| Construction began | 1960 |
| Opening date | 1966 |
| Operators | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington District |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | Gauley River |
| Height | 390 ft (120 m) |
| Length | 2,280 ft (690 m) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Summersville Lake |
| Surface area | 2,700 acres (11 km2) |
| Maximum water depth | 327 ft (100 m) |
| Normal elevation | 1,652 ft (504 m) |
Summersville Lake is areservoir located in theUS state ofWest Virginia. Thelake is formed by a rock-fill dam (Summersville Dam) on theGauley River, south ofSummersville inNicholas County. It is the largest lake in West Virginia, with a surface area of 2,700 acres (1,100 ha) and over 60 miles (97 km) of shoreline at the summer pool water level. Its maximum depth is 327 feet (100 m). Part of the northern shore of the lake is managed by the West Virginia State Park system.[1]
The lake was constructed between 1960 and 1966 by theUnited States Army Corps of Engineers in order to control flooding in an 803-square-mile (2,080 km2) watershed along the Gauley River and theKanawha River. At 390 feet (120 m) tall, 2,280 feet (690 m) long, and containing 12,000,000 cubic yards (9,200,000 m3) of dirt and rock, the dam itself is the second-largest rock-fill dam in the Eastern United States. PresidentLyndon B. Johnson dedicated both the dam and a new Summersville Post Office on September 3, 1966.
In 2001, a two-year project was completed to harness the dam outflow forhydroelectric power generation. The power plant has a capacity to generate 80-\megawatts of electricity at peak flow.
The lake also serves as a recreation area for fishing, boating, and rock climbing,[2] as well assnorkeling andscuba diving. It serves as the eastern (upstream) end ofGauley River National Recreation Area. There is a small boat under the lake that was intentionally sunk to give divers something to view while scuba diving. Beyond the bridge that Route 19 crosses over the lake is a no-wake zone for casual boating. Located on the cliffs of Summersville Lake is the only working lighthouse in West Virginia, the Summersville Lake Lighthouse. Cliff Jumping has been banned at Summersville Lake since 2007.
In August 2023, GovernorJim Justice announced that 177 acres of the lake's northern shore would becomeSummersville Lake State Park.[3] The park has an emphasis on rock climbing. It also offers hiking and biking trails, water activities, and camping areas.
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