Ragged Mountain Dam is an earth dam located in Albemarle County, Virginia. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 133 ft133 ft tall and 780 ft long, taller than 99% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Ragged Mountain Dam
The primary purpose of Ragged Mountain 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 Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority (public utility).
The dam stands 133 feet tall and stretches 780 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 170 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 8,243 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 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 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 07/07/2020.
At 133 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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 | Albemarle |
| Coordinates | 38.02890, -78.55920 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 133 ft |
| Dam Height | 133 ft |
| Dam Length | 780 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 8,243 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 8,243 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 5,284 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 170 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/07/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA003053 |
| Federal ID | VA003053 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |