Stony Creek Dam #9
Stony Creek Dam #9 is an earth dam located in Shenandoah County, Virginia, built in 1971. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Stony Creek Dam #9
The primary purpose of Stony Creek Dam #9 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 Lord Fairfax Soil And Water Conservation District (local government). It impounds the Stony Creek.
The dam stands 80 feet tall and stretches 960 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 44 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,417 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 7 square miles. Completed in 1971, 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. 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 12/08/2021.
At 80 feet, this dam is taller than 97% 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 | Shenandoah |
| River/Stream | Stony Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.80340, -78.79140 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 80 ft |
| Dam Height | 80 ft |
| Dam Length | 960 ft |
| Year Completed | 1971 (55 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,417 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,417 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 697 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 44 acres |
| Drainage Area | 7 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 30,331 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Lord Fairfax Soil and Water Conservation District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 12/08/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA171001 |
| Federal ID | VA171001 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |