Chisholm Dam Upper Farm is an earth dam located in Albemarle County, Virginia. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 37 ft37 ft tall and 250 ft long, taller than 83% 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 Chisholm Dam Upper Farm
The primary purpose of Chisholm Dam Upper Farm 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 Mary Jane Chisholm (private). It impounds the Tr-beaverdam Creek.
The dam stands 37 feet tall and stretches 250 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 18 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 352 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 12/08/2016. That was 9 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
At 37 feet, this dam is taller than 83% of dams nationwide.
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 |
| River/Stream | Tr-beaverdam Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.20600, -78.51650 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Length | 250 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 352 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 352 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 241 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 18 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Mary Jane Chisholm |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 12/08/2016 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA003168 |
| Federal ID | VA003168 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |