Lake Brittle Dam
Lake Brittle Dam is an earth dam located in Fauquier County, Virginia. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Lake Brittle Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Brittle Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Virginia Department Of Wildlife Resources (state). It impounds the South Run.
The dam stands 35 feet tall and stretches 910 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 77 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,540 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/11/2022.
At 35 feet, this dam is taller than 82% 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 | Fauquier |
| River/Stream | South Run |
| Coordinates | 38.74940, -77.68990 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Length | 910 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,540 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,540 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 735 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 77 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/11/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA061021 |
| Federal ID | VA061021 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |