Wellesley Dam
Wellesley Dam is an earth dam located in Henrico County, Virginia. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Wellesley Dam
The primary purpose of Wellesley Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Henrico County (local government). It impounds the Hardings Branch.
The dam stands 29 feet tall and stretches 600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 12 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 131 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 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 04/05/2023.
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 | Henrico |
| River/Stream | Hardings Branch |
| Coordinates | 37.64510, -77.62560 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Length | 600 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 131 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 131 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 67 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 12 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Henrico County |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/05/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA087013 |
| Federal ID | VA087013 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |