Simpkins Dam is an earth dam located in Bedford County, Virginia. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 36 ft36 ft tall and 300 ft long, taller than 82% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Simpkins Dam
The primary purpose of Simpkins Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by R. Gardner Simpkins, Jr. (private). It impounds the Trib - Big Otter River.
The dam stands 36 feet tall and stretches 300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 8 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 115 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life.
At 36 feet, this dam is taller than 82% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Virginia |
| County | Bedford |
| River/Stream | Trib - Big Otter River |
| Coordinates | 37.38170, -79.53180 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Length | 300 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 115 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 115 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 64 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 8 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | R. Gardner Simpkins, Jr. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA019031 |
| Federal ID | VA019031 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |