Lake Burnt Mills Dam
Lake Burnt Mills Dam is an earth dam located in Suffolk County, Virginia. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Lake Burnt Mills Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Burnt Mills 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 Norfolk (public utility). It impounds the Western Branch Of Nansemond River - Vahu6 Jl47 Western Branch Reservoir near Suffolk.
The dam stands 47 feet tall and stretches 2,520 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 600 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 18,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 25 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 07/07/2020.
At 47 feet, this dam is taller than 92% of dams nationwide.
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 | Suffolk |
| Nearest City | Suffolk |
| River/Stream | Western Branch Of Nansemond River - Vahu6 Jl47 Western Branch Reservoir |
| Coordinates | 36.84070, -76.62730 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,520 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 18,500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 18,500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 10,300 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 600 acres |
| Drainage Area | 25 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 15,665 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | City of Norfolk |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 07/07/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA800003 |
| Federal ID | VA800003 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |