Hale Lake
Hale Lake is an earth dam located in Grayson County, Virginia, built in 1965. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Hale Lake
The primary purpose of Hale Lake is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Usda Fs (federal). It impounds the Wolf Pen Branch.
The dam stands 30 feet tall and stretches 188 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 53 acre-feet. Completed in 1965, 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. The most recent inspection on record was 09/15/2019.
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 | Grayson |
| River/Stream | Wolf Pen Branch |
| Coordinates | 36.76087, -81.24988 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Length | 188 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 53 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 53 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 45 acre-ft |
| Max Discharge | 188 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | USDA FS |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 09/15/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA077001 |
| Federal ID | VA077001 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |