North Fork Of Pound Dam
North Fork Of Pound Dam is a rockfill dam located in Wise County, Virginia, built in 1966. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About North Fork Of Pound Dam
The primary purpose of North Fork Of Pound Dam 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 Usace - Huntington District (federal). It impounds the North Fork Of Pound River near Pound.
The dam stands 122 feet tall and stretches 600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 154 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 11,293 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 17 square miles. Completed in 1966, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/30/2021.
At 122 feet, this dam is taller than 98% 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 | Wise |
| Nearest City | Pound |
| River/Stream | North Fork Of Pound River |
| Coordinates | 37.12512, -82.63055 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 122 ft |
| Dam Length | 600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1966 (60 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 11,293 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 11,293 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,184 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 154 acres |
| Drainage Area | 17 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 43,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Huntington District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 07/30/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA195001 |
| Federal ID | VA195001 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |