Stonewall Jackson Dam Still Controversial After 25 Years
Morgantown Dominion Post
10 July 2011
Associated Press
WESTON — The $208 million Stonewall Jackson Dam was completed 25 years
ago and has reduced flood damage by $210.5 million, according to the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
But the dam also displaced about 1,800 people, including Kenney Parker,
78, who now lives in French Creek.
That aspect prompted controversy before the dam’s completion. And 25
years later, for some people that sentiment hasn’t changed.
“We had about 74 acres on Little Skin Creek,” Parker said. “A lot of
the land was handed down from land grants from the Revolutionary War.
Our family was fifth or sixth generation that had the land.”
And, like others, Parker didn’t think the settlement offer was enough.
But most took it. He went to court and didn’t get as much as he was
offered initially.
“Several of the older people have died. There is no close community
anymore,” Parker said.
Kit Trussler, head maintenance mechanic for the dam, said he
understands the resentment. He came from an area where the Corps did
the same thing in the 1930s and 1940s.
“Anybody who had family land that the government took, you have to feel
for those people. You’ve got to sympathize with them,” Trussler said.
About 20,000 acres were purchased for the Stonewall Jackson Dam
project, which has provided a tremendous amount of flood control for
Weston and all points north.
The dam holds a steady water supply for all the cities that draw water
from the West Fork River, and water quality in the river has increased
tremendously, Trussler said.
The Army Corps estimates flood reduction damage for last year alone was
$5.5 million. The dam has reduced damage from four major floods per
year on average, the Corps says.
Parker and a group of interested residents had a plan to take care of
the flooding issue with small watershed dams, which would not have
taken nearly as much cropland.
“The dam was discussed when I was in high school. The Corps of
Engineers didn’t give up because they had money from politicians to
build it,” the 78-year-old said.
And in 1980, the plans began. Although the dam was completed in 1986,
the lake was only filled halfway for the dedication in 1988.
“We released that, completed boat ramp construction, and in January
1989 closed the gates, and it’s been holding water since then,”
Trussler said. “When the lake is full, that’s 14.7 billion gallons of
water behind the dam.”
At summer pool, there are 2,650 acres of water in the lake. There are
82 miles of shoreline. The state stocks trout in the river from
February through May. That was unheard of before the dam went into
operation, Trussler said.
In the world of dams themselves, Stonewall Jackson is an infant.
Tygart Lake, built in 1933 by the Army Corps, has one of the oldest
dams in the Pittsburgh District, and Stonewall is the newest, Trussler
said.
Maintaining the dams takes vigilance, Trussler said.
In addition to daily, weekly and monthly maintenance routines, there is
an annual inspection of all the operating systems.