Dover Lake Dam
Dover Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Goochland County, Virginia. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Dover Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Dover Lake Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Sabot Hill Owners Association;sabot Hill Owners Association (private). It impounds the Dover Creek.
The dam stands 41 feet tall and stretches 530 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 150 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,198 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 7 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 02/16/2023.
At 41 feet, this dam is taller than 88% 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 | Goochland |
| River/Stream | Dover Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.61960, -77.74550 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 41 ft |
| Dam Height | 41 ft |
| Dam Length | 530 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,198 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,198 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,860 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 150 acres |
| Drainage Area | 7 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 12,765 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Sabot Hill Owners Association;Sabot Hill Owners Association |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 02/16/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA075003 |
| Federal ID | VA075003 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |