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Two WV dams prevented flooding in Charleston

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Two of the state’s seven dams spared the region nearly $180 million in damage during the June flooding, an Army Corps of Engineers colonel told lawmakers Sunday.

Col. Philip M. Secrist III, Huntington district commander of the ACOE, said Sutton and Summersville dams did their jobs on June 23, preventing another 7 to 8 feet of water from reaching Charleston and flooding the Capitol complex and Town Center Mall.

Summersville Dam prevented the majority of the damage, he said, at $135.2 million, while Sutton prevented $39.6 million. Most of the flooding occurred north of Bluestone Dam, which still prevented $4.3 million in damage, he said.

 Secrist said the district headquarters monitored the storm and released water from both dams prior to floodwater reaching them, allowing the maximum amount of water to be stopped.

“The reality is this latest storm came through and landed in areas we don’t protect…

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