Lake Independence Dam
Lake Independence Dam is an earth dam located in Westmoreland County, Virginia, built in 1970. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Lake Independence Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Independence Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. It impounds the Cold Harbor Creek.
The dam stands 13 feet tall and stretches 600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 93 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,537 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1970, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 12/30/2021.
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Location
| State | Virginia |
| County | Westmoreland |
| River/Stream | Cold Harbor Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.15860, -76.78260 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Length | 600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1970 (56 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,537 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,537 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,428 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 93 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 326 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner Type | Not Listed |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 12/30/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA193004 |
| Federal ID | VA193004 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |