Lake Smith Dam
Lake Smith Dam is an earth dam located in Virginia Beach County, Virginia. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Lake Smith Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Smith 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 Norfolk Department Of Utilities (local government). It impounds the Direct To Little Creek Reservoir - Vahu6 Cb26 Lower Chesapeake Bay - Little Creek near Norfolk.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 800 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 193 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,385 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 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 03/29/2023.
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 | Virginia Beach |
| Nearest City | Norfolk |
| River/Stream | Direct To Little Creek Reservoir - Vahu6 Cb26 Lower Chesapeake Bay - Little Creek |
| Coordinates | 36.89320, -76.16310 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 800 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,385 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,385 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 906 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 193 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Norfolk Department of Utilities |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 03/29/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA810005 |
| Federal ID | VA810005 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |