Douthat Lake Dam
Douthat Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Bath County, Virginia. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Douthat Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Douthat Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Department Of Conservation & Recreation - Division Of State Parks (state). It impounds the Wilson Creek.
The dam stands 55 feet tall and stretches 1,398 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 47 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,328 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 17 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 09/23/2020.
At 55 feet, this dam is taller than 94% 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 | Bath |
| River/Stream | Wilson Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.90370, -79.80390 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 55 ft |
| Dam Height | 55 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,398 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,328 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,328 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 895 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 47 acres |
| Drainage Area | 17 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Department of Conservation & Recreation - Division of State Parks |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/23/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA017001 |
| Federal ID | VA017001 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |