Gatewood Dam is a gravity dam located in Pulaski County, Virginia. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 57 ft57 ft tall and 408 ft long, taller than 94% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Gatewood Dam
The primary purpose of Gatewood Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Town of Pulaski (local government). It impounds the Peak Creek.
The dam stands 57 feet tall and stretches 408 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 167 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,630 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 15 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/18/2023.
At 57 feet, this dam is taller than 94% 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 | Pulaski |
| River/Stream | Peak Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.04070, -80.86040 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 57 ft |
| Dam Height | 57 ft |
| Dam Length | 408 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,630 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,630 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,944 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 167 acres |
| Drainage Area | 15 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Town of Pulaski |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/18/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA155009 |
| Federal ID | VA155009 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |