flood control
Flood management or flood control are methods used to reduce or prevent the detrimental effects of flood waters. Flooding can be caused by a mix of both natural processes, such as extreme weather upstream, and human changes to waterbodies and ru ...
U.S. state
In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its so ...
of
West Virginia
West Virginia is a mountainous U.S. state, state in the Southern United States, Southern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.The United States Census Bureau, Census Bureau and the Association of American ...
. At its normal pool level, Bluestone Dam impounds a stretch of the New and its tributary, the
Bluestone River
The Bluestone River is a tributary of the New River, 77 mi (124 km) long, in southwestern Virginia and southern West Virginia in the United States.Giles County,
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...
.
Bluestone Dam
The lake is formed by the Bluestone Dam, a concrete gravity dam located just upstream of the confluence of the New and Greenbrier rivers. The dam is high and long. The dam was authorized by a presidential
executive order
In the United States, an executive order is a directive by the president of the United States that manages operations of the federal government. The legal or constitutional basis for executive orders has multiple sources. Article Two of the ...
in 1935 and approved by the
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the legislature, legislative branch of the federal government of the United States. It is a Bicameralism, bicameral legislature, including a Lower house, lower body, the United States House of Representatives, ...
in the Flood Control Acts of 1936 and 1938. Construction began in early 1941 but was suspended in 1944 because of
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
. 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
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is the military engineering branch of the United States Army. A direct reporting unit (DRU), it has three primary mission areas: Engineer Regiment, military construction, and civil wo ...
has undertaken a Dam Safety Assurance program for Bluestone. The DSA project includes raising the dam by , 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, was completed 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 Resources
The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) 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 ...
operates
Bluestone State Park
Bluestone State Park is a state park in Summers County, West Virginia. The park is located along the western shore of Bluestone Lake, an impoundment of the New River (West Virginia), New River built and managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Enginee ...
and
Bluestone Wildlife Management Area
Bluestone Wildlife Management Area (also known as Bluestone Lake Wildlife Management Area) is a wildlife management area in southern West Virginia surrounding Bluestone Lake and the New River. The section of the lake from just upstream of the ...
, each encompassing portions of the lake. Camping and other activities are available in these facilities.
Bluestone State Park
Bluestone State Park is a state park in Summers County, West Virginia. The park is located along the western shore of Bluestone Lake, an impoundment of the New River (West Virginia), New River built and managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Enginee ...
*
Bluestone Wildlife Management Area
Bluestone Wildlife Management Area (also known as Bluestone Lake Wildlife Management Area) is a wildlife management area in southern West Virginia surrounding Bluestone Lake and the New River. The section of the lake from just upstream of the ...