Upper Powhatan Dam
Upper Powhatan Dam is an earth dam located in Powhatan County, Virginia. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Upper Powhatan Dam
The primary purpose of Upper Powhatan 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 Stegers Creek.
The dam stands 27 feet tall and stretches 435 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 35 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 750 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 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 03/04/2021.
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 | Powhatan |
| River/Stream | Stegers Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.57620, -77.99250 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Length | 435 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 750 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 750 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 210 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 35 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,330 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 03/04/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA145001 |
| Federal ID | VA145001 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |