Sutton Lake (West Virginia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sutton Lake |
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Sutton Dam on the Elk River (2004)
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 Sutton Lake
Location in West Virginia
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| Location | Braxton / Webster counties, West Virginia, United States |
| Coordinates | 38°39′43″N 80°41′35″W / 38.66204°N 80.69315°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Elk River |
| Primary outflows | Elk River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 14 mi (23 km) |
| Surface area | 1,520 acres (6 km2) |
| Max. depth | 125 ft (38 m) |
| Shore length1 | 40 mi (64 km) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Sutton Lake is a large reservoir (a human-made lake) located in West Virginia, United States. It covers about 1,520 acres (6.15 square kilometers) and is found in both Braxton and Webster counties. The lake was created on the Elk River, just upstream from the town of Sutton.
The idea for Sutton Lake came from the U.S. Congress in the Flood Control Act of 1938. Building the dam that created the lake started in 1956 and finished in 1961. The dam is 210 feet (64 meters) high and 1,178 feet (359 meters) long. It is made of concrete. Congress officially named the lake Sutton Lake on July 4, 1967.
Contents
What is Sutton Lake Like?
Sutton Lake is a beautiful place that stretches for 14 miles (23 kilometers) along the Elk River. It has many small coves and a shoreline that is about 40 miles (64 kilometers) long. The deepest part of the lake, near the dam, is 125 feet (38 meters) deep.
The Sutton Dam
The Sutton Dam is located just above the town of Sutton. It is 101 miles (163 kilometers) upstream from where the Elk River flows into the Kanawha River in Charleston. The dam is a strong concrete structure, 210 feet (64 meters) tall and 1,178 feet (359 meters) long. At its base, it is 195 feet (59 meters) wide.
Why Was the Dam Built?
The main reason Sutton Dam was built was to control floods on the Elk, Kanawha, and Ohio Rivers. When there is a lot of rain, the dam holds back water. This helps to reduce how bad floods are downstream from the dam. The dam was finished in 1961 and cost about $35 million to build. Since then, it has prevented over $375 million in flood damage. The United States Army Corps of Engineers manages and takes care of the dam and the areas around it that people use for recreation.
Important Environmental Note
Sometimes, there can be confusion about Sutton Lake. In 2013, a study from Wake Forest University looked at selenium contamination. This study was about a different Sutton Lake in North Carolina, which was affected by coal ash from a power plant. It's important to know that the Sutton Lake in West Virginia, on the Elk River, is not the same as the one in North Carolina. They are in completely different river systems.
