Lower North River # 81c
Lower North River # 81c is an earth dam located in Rockingham County, Virginia. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lower North River # 81c
The primary purpose of Lower North River # 81c 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 City Of Harrisonburg (state). It impounds the Skidmore Fork.
The dam stands 143 feet tall and stretches 450 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 119 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 10,357 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 14 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 04/05/2017. That was 8 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
At 143 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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 | Rockingham |
| River/Stream | Skidmore Fork |
| Coordinates | 38.57180, -79.13770 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 143 ft |
| Dam Height | 143 ft |
| Dam Length | 450 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 10,357 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 10,357 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 4,852 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 119 acres |
| Drainage Area | 14 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | City of Harrisonburg |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/05/2017 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA165006 |
| Federal ID | VA165006 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |