Upper Blackwater River Dam #4
Upper Blackwater River Dam #4 is an earth dam located in Franklin County, Virginia. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Upper Blackwater River Dam #4
The primary purpose of Upper Blackwater River Dam #4 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 Blue Ridge Soil And Water Conservation District (local government). It impounds the Trib-n.f.blackwater River.
The dam stands 52 feet tall and stretches 540 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 10 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 338 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/18/2019.
At 52 feet, this dam is taller than 93% 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 | Franklin |
| River/Stream | Trib-n.f.blackwater River |
| Coordinates | 37.07720, -80.03650 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 52 ft |
| Dam Height | 52 ft |
| Dam Length | 540 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 338 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 338 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 65 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 10 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Blue Ridge Soil and Water Conservation District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 07/18/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA067002 |
| Federal ID | VA067002 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |