Swans Dam
Swans Dam is an earth dam located in Cumberland County, Virginia, built in 1973. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Swans Dam
The primary purpose of Swans Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Wtl Properties, Llc;wildwood Land Corp (private). It impounds the Guinea Creek.
The dam stands 24 feet tall and stretches 1,125 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 94 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,390 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 22 square miles. Completed in 1973, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam.
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 | Cumberland |
| River/Stream | Guinea Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.42440, -78.24500 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,125 ft |
| Year Completed | 1973 (53 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,390 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,390 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 350 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 94 acres |
| Drainage Area | 22 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | WTL Properties, LLC;Wildwood Land Corp |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA049012 |
| Federal ID | VA049012 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |