Harwood's Mill Dam
Harwood's Mill Dam is an earth dam located in York County, Virginia, built in 1919. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Harwood's Mill Dam
The primary purpose of Harwood's Mill 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 City Of Newport News - Waterworks Department (local government). It impounds the Poquoson River.
The dam stands 27 feet tall and stretches 1,200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 274 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 5,845 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 10 square miles. Completed in 1919, the structure is over a century 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 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 08/17/2022.
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 | York |
| River/Stream | Poquoson River |
| Coordinates | 37.13800, -76.45790 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1919 (107 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 5,845 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 5,845 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,696 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 274 acres |
| Drainage Area | 10 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | City of Newport News - Waterworks Department |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 08/17/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA199001 |
| Federal ID | VA199001 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |