Cave Mountain
Cave Mountain is a concrete dam located in Rockbridge County, Virginia, built in 1934. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Cave Mountain
The primary purpose of Cave Mountain 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 Back Run.
The dam stands 30 feet tall and stretches 145 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 37 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1934, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 03/20/2019. That was 7 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
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 | Rockbridge |
| River/Stream | Back Run |
| Coordinates | 37.57667, -79.53611 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Length | 145 ft |
| Year Completed | 1934 (92 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 37 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 37 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 30 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | USDA FS |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 03/20/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA163005 |
| Federal ID | VA163005 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |