Upper Sherando Scs 27
Upper Sherando Scs 27 is an earth dam located in Augusta County, Virginia, built in 1958. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Upper Sherando Scs 27
The primary purpose of Upper Sherando Scs 27 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 Usda Fs (federal). It impounds the N Fork Back Creek.
The dam stands 59 feet tall and stretches 950 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 763 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1958, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/19/2020.
At 59 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 | Augusta |
| River/Stream | N Fork Back Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.91646, -79.01721 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 59 ft |
| Dam Height | 59 ft |
| Dam Length | 950 ft |
| Year Completed | 1958 (68 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 763 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 763 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 36 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 9,200 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USDA FS |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 03/19/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA015003 |
| Federal ID | VA015003 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |