South River Dam #26
South River Dam #26 is an earth dam located in Augusta County, Virginia. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About South River Dam #26
The primary purpose of South River Dam #26 is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Headwaters Soil And Water Conservation District (local government). It impounds the Inch Branch Of Back Creek.
The dam stands 57 feet tall and stretches 766 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 9 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 868 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 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 04/08/2022.
At 57 feet, this dam is taller than 95% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Augusta |
| River/Stream | Inch Branch Of Back Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.01440, -78.92410 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 57 ft |
| Dam Height | 57 ft |
| Dam Length | 766 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 868 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 868 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 58 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 9 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Headwaters Soil and Water Conservation District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/08/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA015001 |
| Federal ID | VA015001 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |