Bush River Dam # 7 is an earth dam located in Prince Edward County, Virginia. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 44 ft44 ft tall and 1,280 ft long, taller than 89% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Bush River Dam # 7
The primary purpose of Bush River Dam # 7 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 Piedmont Soil and Water Conservation District;piedmont Soil and Water Conservation District (local government). It impounds the Bush River - Vahu6 Ja11 Bush River - Evans Creek near Burkeville.
The dam stands 44 feet tall and stretches 1,280 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 52 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,570 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 9 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 03/20/2019. That was 7 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
At 44 feet, this dam is taller than 89% 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 | Prince Edward |
| Nearest City | Burkeville |
| River/Stream | Bush River - Vahu6 Ja11 Bush River - Evans Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.12120, -78.42120 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,280 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,570 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,570 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 288 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 52 acres |
| Drainage Area | 9 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Piedmont Soil and Water Conservation District;piedmont Soil and Water Conservation District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 03/20/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA147036 |
| Federal ID | VA147036 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |