Bedford Lake Dam
Bedford Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Bedford County, Virginia. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Bedford Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Bedford Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Bedford Estates Hoa;catherine Goodwin;michael Rowland (private). It impounds the North Otter River.
The dam stands 52 feet tall and stretches 700 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 31 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 965 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 13 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 01/24/2022.
At 52 feet, this dam is taller than 93% 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 | Bedford |
| River/Stream | North Otter River |
| Coordinates | 37.46510, -79.47100 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 52 ft |
| Dam Height | 52 ft |
| Dam Length | 700 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 965 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 965 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 612 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 31 acres |
| Drainage Area | 13 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Bedford Estates HOA;Catherine Goodwin;Michael Rowland |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 01/24/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA019005 |
| Federal ID | VA019005 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |