Whites Lake
Whites Lake is an earth dam located in Caroline County, Virginia, built in 1940. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
About Whites Lake
The primary purpose of Whites Lake is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Fort Walker (federal). It impounds the Maricossic Creek near Sparta.
The dam stands 17 feet tall and stretches 300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 69 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,056 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 11 square miles. Completed in 1940, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 unsatisfactory, indicating serious safety deficiencies exist that require immediate attention or remedial action. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/24/2018.
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Location
| State | Virginia |
| County | Caroline |
| Nearest City | Sparta |
| River/Stream | Maricossic Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.03940, -77.18390 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Length | 300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1940 (86 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,056 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,056 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 184 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 69 acres |
| Drainage Area | 11 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 598 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Fort Walker |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/24/2018 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA033006 |
| Federal ID | VA033006 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |