Lunga Dam
Lunga Dam is an earth dam located in Stafford County, Virginia, built in 1956. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Lunga Dam
The primary purpose of Lunga Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Dod Usmc (federal). It impounds the Beaverdam Run near Aquia.
The dam stands 59 feet tall and stretches 1,300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 474 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 12,800 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 10 square miles. Completed in 1956, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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 11/01/2023.
At 59 feet, this dam is taller than 95% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Stafford |
| Nearest City | Aquia |
| River/Stream | Beaverdam Run |
| Coordinates | 38.52360, -77.46120 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 59 ft |
| Dam Height | 59 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1956 (70 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 12,800 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 12,800 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 5,200 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 474 acres |
| Drainage Area | 10 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5,850 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | DOD USMC |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 11/01/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA179001 |
| Federal ID | VA179001 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |