Lake Caroline Dam
Lake Caroline Dam is an earth dam located in Caroline County, Virginia. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Caroline Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Caroline 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 Lake Caroline Property Owners Assoc. (private). It impounds the Toe Ink Swamp / Stevens Mill Run.
The dam stands 48 feet tall and stretches 1,425 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 273 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 8,265 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 9 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 04/28/2022.
At 48 feet, this dam is taller than 92% 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 | Caroline |
| River/Stream | Toe Ink Swamp / Stevens Mill Run |
| Coordinates | 37.98680, -77.50640 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 48 ft |
| Dam Height | 48 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,425 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 8,265 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 8,265 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,821 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 273 acres |
| Drainage Area | 9 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Lake Caroline Property Owners Assoc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/28/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA033024 |
| Federal ID | VA033024 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |