Scotts Mill Dam

Scotts Mill Dam is a masonry dam located in Lynchburg County, Virginia. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.

About Scotts Mill Dam

The primary purpose of Scotts Mill Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Scotts Mill Hydro, Llc (private). It impounds the James River Mainstem - Vahu6 Jm11 James River - Opossum Creek near Lynchburg.

The dam stands 11 feet tall and stretches 905 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 166 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 957 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3,340 square miles.

This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. 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 11/08/2022.

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Low HazardFair ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Yes

Location

StateVirginia
CountyLynchburg
Nearest CityLynchburg
River/StreamJames River Mainstem - Vahu6 Jm11 James River - Opossum Creek
Coordinates37.42430, -79.14120

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeMasonry
NID Height11 ft
Dam Height11 ft
Dam Length905 ft

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage957 acre-ft
Max Storage957 acre-ft
Normal Storage957 acre-ft
Surface Area166 acres
Drainage Area3,340 sq mi
Max Discharge38,370 cfs
Spillway TypeUncontrolled

Ownership & Safety

PurposeWater Supply
OwnerScotts Mill Hydro, LLC
Owner TypePrivate
Hazard ClassificationLow
Condition AssessmentFair
Last Inspection11/08/2022
Emergency Action PlanYes

Identifiers

NID IDVA680001
Federal IDVA680001
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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