Big Cherry Rcc Dam
Big Cherry Rcc Dam is a concrete dam located in Wise County, Virginia. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Big Cherry Rcc Dam
The primary purpose of Big Cherry Rcc Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Town Of Big Stone Gap (local government). It impounds the South Fork Powell River.
The dam stands 70 feet tall and stretches 400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 156 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 5,550 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/01/2016. That was 9 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
At 70 feet, this dam is taller than 96% 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 |
| River/Stream | South Fork Powell River |
| Coordinates | 36.84640, -82.67220 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 70 ft |
| Dam Height | 70 ft |
| Dam Length | 400 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 5,550 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 5,550 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,941 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 156 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Town of Big Stone Gap |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 06/01/2016 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA195016 |
| Federal ID | VA195016 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |