Buffalo River Dam # 3
Buffalo River Dam # 3 is an earth dam located in Amherst County, Virginia. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Buffalo River Dam # 3
The primary purpose of Buffalo River Dam # 3 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 Amherst County;amherst County Department Of Public Works (local government). It impounds the Stonehouse Creek.
The dam stands 60 feet tall and stretches 500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 41 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,474 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 06/10/2022.
At 60 feet, this dam is taller than 95% 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 | Amherst |
| River/Stream | Stonehouse Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.67280, -79.11910 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 60 ft |
| Dam Height | 60 ft |
| Dam Length | 500 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,474 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,474 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 374 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 41 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Amherst County;Amherst County Department of Public Works |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 06/10/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA009011 |
| Federal ID | VA009011 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |