Upper North River #76
Upper North River #76 is an earth dam located in Augusta County, Virginia. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Upper North River #76
The primary purpose of Upper North River #76 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 City Of Staunton (local government). It impounds the Upper North River.
The dam stands 118 feet tall and stretches 824 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 54 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 10,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 27 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 04/06/2017. That was 8 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
At 118 feet, this dam is taller than 98% 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 | Upper North River |
| Coordinates | 38.32660, -79.22340 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 118 ft |
| Dam Height | 118 ft |
| Dam Length | 824 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 10,500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 10,500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,066 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 54 acres |
| Drainage Area | 27 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | City of Staunton |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/06/2017 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA015006 |
| Federal ID | VA015006 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |