Mountain Valley Dam 1
Mountain Valley Dam 1 is an earth dam located in Albemarle County, Virginia. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Mountain Valley Dam 1
The primary purpose of Mountain Valley Dam 1 is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Evergreen Land Company (private). It impounds the Trib. Biscuit Run.
The dam stands 28 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 8 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 143 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/15/2020.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Virginia dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Virginia |
| County | Albemarle |
| River/Stream | Trib. Biscuit Run |
| Coordinates | 38.00110, -78.54070 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Height | 28 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 143 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 143 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 67 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 8 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Evergreen Land Company |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 09/15/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA003205 |
| Federal ID | VA003205 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |