Falling Creek Reservoir Dam

About Falling Creek Reservoir Dam

The primary purpose of Falling Creek Reservoir Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Chesterfield County Utilities Department;chesterfield County Utilities Department (local government). It impounds the Falling Creek.

The dam stands 34 feet tall and stretches 207 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 92 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,511 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 53 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 12/01/2022.

At 34 feet, this dam is taller than 80% 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.

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