Burnsville Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Burnsville Lake |
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Lake and Dam
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 Burnsville Lake
Location in West Virginia
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| Location | Braxton County, West Virginia |
| Coordinates | 38°50′24″N 80°37′05″W / 38.84000°N 80.61806°W |
| Lake type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Little Kanawha River |
| Primary outflows | Little Kanawha River |
| Catchment area | 165 sq mi (430 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface elevation | 784 feet (239 m) |
Burnsville Lake is a special kind of lake called a reservoir. It's located in Braxton County, West Virginia, near the town of Burnsville. This lake is important for two main reasons: it helps control floods and it's a great place for fun activities! The lake was created on the Little Kanawha River.
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Why Burnsville Lake Was Built
The idea for Burnsville Lake came from the U.S. Congress in 1938. They passed a law called the Flood Control Act. This law aimed to protect communities from damaging floods. Building a dam and creating a lake helps hold back extra water during heavy rains. This stops rivers from overflowing and causing problems downstream.
Building the Dam
Work on the Burnsville Lake project started in the summer of 1972. The big dam was finished in September 1976. This dam is made of rock and earth. It stands about 84.5 feet (25.8 meters) tall above the riverbed.
The dam helps control water from a large area, about 165 square miles (427 square kilometers). The top of the dam is 839 feet (256 meters) above sea level. It stretches for 1,400 feet (427 meters) across the river. There are special gates in the dam that can open and close. These gates help manage the water flow.
Lake Levels
The amount of water in Burnsville Lake changes throughout the year.
- The lowest normal water level is called the "minimum pool." At this level, the lake is 776 feet (237 meters) above sea level. It covers about 550 acres (2.2 square kilometers).
- In the summer, the water level is higher for recreation. This is called the "summer pool." It's at 789 feet (240 meters) above sea level and covers about 968 acres (3.9 square kilometers).
- During very heavy rains, the lake can fill up even more to hold floodwaters. This is the "flood control pool." It can reach 825 feet (251 meters) above sea level. At this level, the lake covers about 1,900 acres (7.7 square kilometers).
Community Changes
When the dam was being built, it meant big changes for the people living nearby. Some areas where people lived and where their ancestors had lived for a long time would be covered by the new lake. Because of this, some families had to move their homes. Even old cemeteries had to be carefully moved to new locations.
At first, there wasn't a special recreation area right at Burnsville Lake for local people. They often had to travel to another place called Bulltown to enjoy lake activities.
Images for kids
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Burnsville Dam on the Little Kanawha River in 2004.
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The Falls Mill area, which is the upstream end of Burnsville Lake when the water is at its normal level.
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