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High Risk Dams in Virginia

Virginia has 52 high hazard dams with a condition assessment of poor or unsatisfactory. These are dams where failure would probably cause loss of human life and where recognized safety deficiencies have been identified.

Of the 433 high hazard dams in Virginia, 52 (12%) have concerning condition ratings — 44 rated poor and 8 rated unsatisfactory.

Condition scale, best to worst
  1. Satisfactory No existing or potential safety deficiencies recognized; acceptable performance expected under all loading conditions.
  2. Fair No deficiencies under normal operating conditions; a rare flood or earthquake could create one.
  3. Poor A safety deficiency is recognized under normal operating conditions; remedial action is necessary.
  4. Unsatisfactory Worst rating. The dam is considered unsafe; a deficiency requires immediate or emergency remedial action.

"Not rated" means no assessment is on file in the National Inventory of Dams.

DamCountyHeight (ft)ConditionLast inspectedPurposeYear
Bath County P S Lower Reservoir - Lower DamBath170Poor08/05/20251 yr agoHydroelectric1984
Lake Montclair DamPrince William74Poor06/09/20224 yrs agoRecreation
Beaverdam Creek DamBedford68Poor11/16/20214 yrs agoWater Supply
Little Creek DamJames City67Poor11/09/20214 yrs agoWater Supply
Lunga DamStafford59Poor11/01/20232 yrs agoRecreation1956
Breckinridge DamStafford58Poor11/01/20232 yrs agoRecreation1940
Stoney Creek Reservoir Dam (bedford)Bedford54Poor04/14/20224 yrs agoWater Supply
Thompson DamFauquier52Poor03/22/20215 yrs agoRecreation
King William County Dam #7King William47Poor03/15/20224 yrs ago
Fluvanna Ruritan DamFluvanna43Poor03/04/20215 yrs agoRecreation
Turner Pond DamRockbridge42Poor03/17/20179 yrs agoFlood Risk Reduction1947
Dover Lake DamGoochland41Poor02/16/20233 yrs agoIrrigation
Ruckers Lake DamGreene40Poor01/24/20206 yrs agoRecreation
Lake Monroe DamKing George40Unsatisfactory11/29/20214 yrs agoRecreation
Lanier DamMartinsville39Poor12/29/20214 yrs agoRecreation
Chisholm Dam Upper FarmAlbemarle37Poor12/08/20169 yrs agoWater Supply
Diascund Creek DamNew Kent35Poor11/09/20214 yrs agoWater Supply
College Lake DamLynchburg35Poor11/09/20214 yrs agoRecreation
Middle Mint Spings DamAlbemarle35Poor10/10/20223 yrs agoRecreation
Natural Bridge Dam # 5Rockbridge35Poor11/16/20187 yrs agoRecreation
South River Dam #19Augusta35Unsatisfactory04/08/20224 yrs agoFlood Risk Reduction
Fries, Canal EmbankmentGrayson33Poor10/09/20241 yr agoHydroelectric1902
Warrenton DamFauquier31Poor05/19/20233 yrs agoWater Supply
Lake Shenandoah DamRockingham31Poor04/08/20224 yrs agoRecreation
Lake Cohoon DamSuffolk29Poor05/10/20224 yrs agoWater Supply
Mountain Valley Dam 4Albemarle28Poor01/06/20215 yrs agoRecreation
Lake Land'or DamCaroline28Poor11/09/20223 yrs agoRecreation
Harwood's Mill DamYork27Poor08/17/20224 yrs agoWater Supply1919
Westbury Lake DamRichmond City27Poor05/10/20224 yrs agoRecreation
Upper Powhatan DamPowhatan27Poor03/04/20215 yrs agoRecreation
Lake Arrowhead DamStafford26Unsatisfactory11/03/20223 yrs agoRecreation
Speights Run DamSuffolk26Poor05/10/20224 yrs agoWater Supply
Hobby Hill DamRichmond City25Poor02/15/20224 yrs agoRecreation
Lake Meade DamSuffolk25Poor07/19/20224 yrs agoWater Supply
Lakeland DamLynchburg25Poor05/16/20233 yrs agoRecreation
Brunswick Lake DamBrunswick25Poor03/17/20215 yrs agoRecreation
Gretna DamPittsylvania24Poor09/07/201610 yrs agoWater Supply
Killarney DamGoochland24Unsatisfactory11/19/20196 yrs agoRecreation
Cherokee DamRichmond City24Poor05/10/20224 yrs agoRecreation
Woodhaven DamNew Kent23Poor05/09/20233 yrs agoRecreation
Burke DamGloucester21Poor01/27/20233 yrs agoRecreation
Lake Heritage DamCaroline20Poor11/09/20223 yrs agoRecreation
Buckingham County Dam #2Buckingham19Unsatisfactory11/17/20196 yrs agoOther
Lake Kilby DamSuffolk19Poor05/10/20224 yrs agoWater Supply
Chester Club DamChesterfield18Poor02/22/20224 yrs agoRecreation
Willcox DamPetersburg18Poor06/09/20215 yrs agoRecreation
Chandler's Mill DamWestmoreland15Unsatisfactory05/31/20233 yrs agoRecreation
Smoots PondCaroline14Unsatisfactory07/24/20188 yrs agoRecreation1949
Bowies PondCaroline14Unsatisfactory07/24/20188 yrs agoRecreation1940
Godwins Millpond DamSuffolk14Poor03/09/20215 yrs agoWater Supply
Lancaster County Dam #3Lancaster13Poor01/14/20224 yrs ago
Corbin Mill DamKing and Queen13Poor03/29/20224 yrs agoRecreation

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