Newman Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Harrisonburg County, Virginia. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 18 ft18 ft tall and 400 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Newman Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Newman Lake 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 James Madison University (state). It impounds the Tr-blacks Run.
The dam stands 18 feet tall and stretches 400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 13 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 122 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 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 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 09/14/2021.
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 | Harrisonburg |
| River/Stream | Tr-blacks Run |
| Coordinates | 38.43140, -78.87480 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 18 ft |
| Dam Height | 18 ft |
| Dam Length | 400 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 122 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 122 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 62 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 13 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | James Madison University |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/14/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA660001 |
| Federal ID | VA660001 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |