Mountain Run Dam #50 is an earth dam located in Culpeper County, Virginia. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 55 ft55 ft tall and 868 ft long, taller than 94% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Mountain Run Dam #50
The primary purpose of Mountain Run Dam #50 is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Town of Culpeper (local government). It impounds the Mountain Run.
The dam stands 55 feet tall and stretches 868 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 250 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 10,706 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 26 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 06/13/2019. That was 7 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
At 55 feet, this dam is taller than 94% 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 | Culpeper |
| River/Stream | Mountain Run |
| Coordinates | 38.46890, -78.01820 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 55 ft |
| Dam Height | 55 ft |
| Dam Length | 868.1 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 10,706 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 10,706 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,906 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 250 acres |
| Drainage Area | 26 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Town of Culpeper |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/13/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA047003 |
| Federal ID | VA047003 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |