Lake Meade Dam
Lake Meade Dam is a gravity dam located in Suffolk County, Virginia. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Lake Meade Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Meade 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 Portsmouth, Department Of Public Utilities (local government). It impounds the Nansemond River - Vahu6 Jl48 Nansemond River - Cedar Lake near Suffolk.
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 678 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 590 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 9,281 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 64 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 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 07/19/2022.
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 | Suffolk |
| Nearest City | Suffolk |
| River/Stream | Nansemond River - Vahu6 Jl48 Nansemond River - Cedar Lake |
| Coordinates | 36.74630, -76.58880 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 678 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 9,281 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 9,281 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 6,445 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 590 acres |
| Drainage Area | 64 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | City of Portsmouth, Department of Public Utilities |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 07/19/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VA800013 |
| Federal ID | VA800013 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |