Martha Jefferson Retention Basin Dam is an earth dam located in Albemarle County, Virginia. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 36 ft36 ft tall, taller than 82% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Martha Jefferson Retention Basin Dam
The primary purpose of Martha Jefferson Retention Basin Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Martha Jefferson Hospital;martha Jefferson Hospital (private). It impounds the Trib. Rivanna River.
The dam stands 36 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 1 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 29 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/26/2020.
At 36 feet, this dam is taller than 82% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Virginia |
| County | Albemarle |
| River/Stream | Trib. Rivanna River |
| Coordinates | 38.02350, -78.44670 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Height | 36 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 29 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 29 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 6 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Martha Jefferson Hospital;martha Jefferson Hospital |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/26/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA003026 |
| Federal ID | VA003026 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |