James M. Stephens Dam is an earth dam located in Bedford County, Virginia. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 27 ft27 ft tall and 451 ft long, taller than 59% 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 James M. Stephens Dam
The primary purpose of James M. Stephens Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by James M. Stephens (private). It impounds the Tributary to Orix Creek.
The dam stands 27 feet tall and stretches 451 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 11 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 140 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/27/2015. That was over 11 years ago.
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Location
| State | Virginia |
| County | Bedford |
| River/Stream | Tributary to Orix Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.19880, -79.37630 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Length | 451 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 140 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 140 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 115 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 11 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | James M. Stephens |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 07/27/2015 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA019057 |
| Federal ID | VA019057 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |