Many West Virginia Watershed Dams Don’t Meet Standards

State official says many of West Virginia’s aging watershed dams don’t meet current design standards and need repairs.

West Virginia Conservation Agency executive director Brian Farkas says his agency doesn’t have the resources to address the issue.

There are 170 watershed dams in the state. Farkas says about 100 of them don’t meet current design standards.

The Charleston Daily Mail reports that Farkas’ comments came Wednesday during a legislative interim meeting.

He told lawmakers that all but one dam are designated as “high hazard.” That means loss of life and high property damage are likely if the dams should fail.

But Farkas says no state dams are in danger of failing.

He says that engineers need to review the dams to determine repair costs.