First Branch Dam is an earth dam located in Chesterfield County, Virginia. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 40 ft40 ft tall and 495 ft long, taller than 86% 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 First Branch Dam
The primary purpose of First Branch Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Highlands Community Assoc., Inc (private). It impounds the First Branch.
The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 495 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 52 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,100 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/24/1998. That was over 27 years ago.
At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 86% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Virginia |
| County | Chesterfield |
| River/Stream | First Branch |
| Coordinates | 37.34160, -77.53380 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Length | 495 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,100 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,100 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 700 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 52 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Highlands Community Assoc., Inc |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 11/24/1998 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA041046 |
| Federal ID | VA041046 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |