Dan E. French Reservoir Dam
Dan E. French Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Amherst County, Virginia. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Dan E. French Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Dan E. French Reservoir Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Amherst County Service Authority (acsa) (public utility). It impounds the Graham Creek - Vahu6 Jm08 Harris Creek near Lynchburg.
The dam stands 45 feet tall and stretches 530 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 57 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,630 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/12/2021.
At 45 feet, this dam is taller than 91% of dams nationwide.
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 | Amherst |
| Nearest City | Lynchburg |
| River/Stream | Graham Creek - Vahu6 Jm08 Harris Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.48970, -79.16560 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Length | 530 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,630 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,630 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 781 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 57 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Amherst County Service Authority (ACSA) |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/12/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA009008 |
| Federal ID | VA009008 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |