Island Creek Dam
Island Creek Dam is an earth dam located in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, built in 1951. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Island Creek Dam
The primary purpose of Island Creek Dam 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 Usace - Wilmington District (federal). It impounds the Island Creek near Clarksville.
The dam stands 92 feet tall and stretches 2,100 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 170 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 43,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 67 square miles. Completed in 1951, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/20/2025.
At 92 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Mecklenburg |
| Nearest City | Clarksville |
| River/Stream | Island Creek |
| Coordinates | 36.54956, -78.46534 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 92 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,100 ft |
| Year Completed | 1951 (75 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 43,500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 43,500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 910 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 170 acres |
| Drainage Area | 67 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Wilmington District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 08/20/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA117002 |
| Federal ID | VA117002 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |