South River Dam #10a
South River Dam #10a 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 #10a
The primary purpose of South River Dam #10a 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 Augusta County (local government). It impounds the Mills Creek.
The dam stands 98 feet tall and stretches 715 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 17 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,235 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 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 07/27/2021.
At 98 feet, this dam is taller than 98% 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 | Mills Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.95320, -79.00060 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 98 ft |
| Dam Height | 98 ft |
| Dam Length | 715 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,235 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,235 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 370 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 17 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Augusta County |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/27/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA015004 |
| Federal ID | VA015004 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |