Earley Dam
Earley Dam is an earth dam located in Amherst County, Virginia. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Earley Dam
The primary purpose of Earley Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Scott Family Investments, Llc (private). It impounds the Rocky Creek - Vahu6 Jm31 Buffalo River - Rocky Creek near Amherst.
The dam stands 39 feet tall and stretches 600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 60 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,183 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 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 08/24/2020.
At 39 feet, this dam is taller than 86% 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 | Amherst |
| Nearest City | Amherst |
| River/Stream | Rocky Creek - Vahu6 Jm31 Buffalo River - Rocky Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.52790, -79.02070 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 39 ft |
| Dam Height | 39 ft |
| Dam Length | 600 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,183 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,183 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 673 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 60 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Scott Family Investments, LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 08/24/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA009006 |
| Federal ID | VA009006 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |