Chandler's Mill Dam
Chandler's Mill Dam is an earth dam located in Westmoreland County, Virginia. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
About Chandler's Mill Dam
The primary purpose of Chandler's Mill 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).
The dam stands 15 feet tall, has a maximum storage capacity of 475 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 12 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 unsatisfactory, indicating serious safety deficiencies exist that require immediate attention or remedial action. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/31/2023.
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 | Westmoreland |
| Coordinates | 38.09740, -76.84840 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Height | 15 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 475 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 475 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 12 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/31/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA193011 |
| Federal ID | VA193011 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |