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Media Center - News Release

Media inquiries: Please contact Dave Neudeck, dave.neudeck@dcr.virginia.gov, 804-786-5053.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: May 27, 2021
Contact: Julie Buchanan, Senior Public Relations and Marketing Specialist, 804-786-2292, julie.buchanan@dcr.virginia.gov

More than $700,000 in state grants awarded for dam safety and flood protection
May 31 is National Dam Safety Awareness Day

RICHMOND — Virginia will award $726,000 in grants to support 57 dam safety and flood protection activities around the state.

Grants are provided through the Virginia Dam Safety, Flood Prevention and Protection Assistance Fund. The fund was established to provide 50-50 matching grants to both public and private dam owners whose dams are under state regulation and to local communities to improve strategies for flood prevention and protection.

The Virginia Resources Authority manages the fund on behalf of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. Grants are awarded through a competitive application process and approved by the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board. 

Information about the fund is available at http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/dam-safety-and-floodplains/dsfpm-grants.

DCR regulates more than 2,500 dams, and the majority are privately owned. DCR’s Dam Safety staff helps dam owners comply with state regulations and serves as a resource for the engineering community and emergency responders. 

“National Dam Safety Awareness Day is May 31 and, as we reflect on this day, it’s important to remember that flooding is the most common and costly natural hazard,” DCR Director Clyde Cristman said. “These matching grants will help make communities safer and more resilient to the extreme weather we are experiencing more frequently because of climate change.” 

National Dam Safety Awareness Day commemorates the Great Flood of 1889 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The flood was caused by a catastrophic failure of South Fork Dam brought on by days of heavy rain and a series of alterations that made the dam vulnerable to overtopping. More than 2,200 people died, making it the nation’s worst dam-related disaster.

Below is a summary of the Dam Safety, Flood Prevention and Protection Assistance grant awards.

Dam Safety Projects

Dam Name Location Project Type Grant Amount
Clover Dam

Albemarle County

Engineering and Design for Dam Primary Mechanical Flow Control Evaluation and Repair Plan (Valves, Siphons, etc.) Dam or Lake

$6,250

Clover Dam Albemarle County

Probable Maximum Precipitation Impact Analysis and Certification

$1,000

Clover Dam Albemarle County

Repair, replace/install low level draining devices or siphon systems

$12,500

Mountain Valley Dam 1

Albemarle County

Dam Break Inundation Zone Analysis, Mapping, and Digitization

$12,500

Earley Dam

Amherst County

Dam Break Inundation Zone Analysis, Mapping, and Digitization

$9,000

Earley Dam

Amherst County

Emergency Plan Development (EAP Emergency Action Plan or EPP Emergency Preparedness Plan)

$3,000

Paradise Lake Dam

Appomattox County

Dam Break Inundation Zone Analysis, Mapping, and Digitization

$9,250

Paradise Lake Dam

Appomattox County

Emergency Plan Development (EAP Emergency Action Plan or EPP Emergency Preparedness Plan)

$3,250

Paradise Lake Dam

Appomattox County

Professional Engineer Inspection

$1,100

Lake Vista Dam #1

Bedford County

Probable Maximum Precipitation Impact Analysis and Certification

$1,250

Lake Vista Dam #1

Bedford County

Professional Engineer Inspection

$780

Ivy Hill Dam

Bedford County

Professional Engineer Inspection

$900

Slate River Dam #2

Buckingham County

Emergency Plan Development (EAP Emergency Action Plan or EPP Emergency Preparedness Plan)

$3,400

Trices Lake Dam

Cumberland County

Probable Maximum Precipitation Impact Analysis and Certification

$1,000

Trices Lake Dam

Cumberland County

Professional Engineer Inspection

$1,000

Cow Creek Dam

Gloucester County

Dam Break Inundation Zone Analysis, Mapping, and Digitization

$9,963

Cow Creek Dam

Gloucester County

Emergency Plan Development (EAP Emergency Action Plan or EPP Emergency Preparedness Plan)

$590

Cow Creek Dam

Gloucester County

Probable Maximum Precipitation Impact Analysis and Certification

$973

Cow Creek Dam

Gloucester County

Professional Engineer Inspection

$1,565

The Forest Dam

Goochland County

Emergency Plan Development (EAP Emergency Action Plan or EPP Emergency Preparedness Plan)

$625

The Forest Dam

Goochland County

Professional Engineer Inspection

$475

Hidden Valley Estates Dam

Grayson County

Engineering and Design for Dam Primary Mechanical Flow Control Evaluation and Repair Plan (Valves, Siphons, etc.) Dam or Lake

$5,950

Hidden Valley Estates Dam

Grayson County

Repair, replace/install low level draining devices or siphon systems

$26,043

Gaines Mill Dam

Hanover County

Dam Break Inundation Zone Analysis, Mapping, and Digitization

$8,000

Gaines Mill Dam

Hanover County

Emergency Plan Development (EAP Emergency Action Plan or EPP Emergency Preparedness Plan)

$3,000

Canterbury Dam

Henrico County

Emergency Plan Development (EAP Emergency Action Plan or EPP Emergency Preparedness Plan)

$2,998

Canterbury Dam

Henrico County

Professional Engineer Inspection

$1,022

Echo Dam

Henrico County

Emergency Plan Development (EAP Emergency Action Plan or EPP Emergency Preparedness Plan)

$2,859

Echo Dam

Henrico County

Professional Engineer Inspection

$1,022

Echo Dam

Henrico County

Repair, replace/install low level draining devices or siphon systems

$3,596

Wyndham Lake Dam

Henrico County

Emergency Plan Development (EAP Emergency Action Plan or EPP Emergency Preparedness Plan)

$1,260

Wyndham Lake Dam

Henrico County

Professional Engineer Inspection

$630

Wellesley Dam

Henrico County

Dam Break Inundation Zone Analysis, Mapping, and Digitization

$10,295

Wellesley Dam

Henrico County

Emergency Plan Development (EAP Emergency Action Plan or EPP Emergency Preparedness Plan)

$1,260

Wellesley Dam

Henrico County

Professional Engineer Inspection

$630

Cox Road Dam

Henrico County

Emergency Plan Development (EAP Emergency Action Plan or EPP Emergency Preparedness Plan)

$1,700

Cox Road Dam

Henrico County

Professional Engineer Inspection

$1,022

Elkhorn Dam

Pittsylvania County

Repair, replace/install low level draining devices or siphon systems

$30,400

Lake Powhatan Dam

Pulaski County

Engineering and Design for Dam Primary Mechanical Flow Control Evaluation and Repair Plan (Valves, Siphons, etc.) Dam or Lake

$8,500

Connellee Dam

Richmond County

Dam Break Inundation Zone Analysis, Mapping, and Digitization

$11,000

Connellee Dam

Richmond County

Professional Engineer Inspection

$1,100

The Laurels Dam

Spotsylvania County

Repair, replace/install low level draining devices or siphon systems

$30,700

Hidden Lake Dam

Stafford County

Engineering studies to evaluate static, hydrologic, and seismic failure modes to address public safety concerns

$9,360

Hidden Lake Dam

Stafford County

Probable Maximum Precipitation Impact Analysis and Certification

$1,035

Hidden Lake Dam

Stafford County

Professional Engineer Inspection

$1,490

Leeland Lake Dam

Stafford County

Emergency Plan Development (EAP Emergency Action Plan or EPP Emergency Preparedness Plan)

$3,900

Bear Creek Dam

Town of Wise

Professional Engineer Inspection

$1,700

Reed Creek Dam

Wythe County

Dam Break Inundation Zone Analysis, Mapping, and Digitization

$5,175

Queens Lake Dam

York County

Dam Break Inundation Zone Analysis, Mapping, and Digitization

$8,200

Queens Lake Dam

York County

Emergency Plan Development (EAP Emergency Action Plan or EPP Emergency Preparedness Plan)

$1,000

Queens Lake Dam

York County

Engineering studies to evaluate static, hydrologic, and seismic failure modes to address public safety concerns

$11,005

Queens Lake Dam

York County

Professional Engineer Inspection

$1,000

Lake Cohoon Dam

City of Suffolk

Engineering studies to evaluate static, hydrologic, and seismic failure modes to address public safety concerns

$293,632

Speights Run Dam

City of Suffolk/Owned by City of Portsmouth

Engineering studies to evaluate static, hydrologic, and seismic failure modes to address public safety concerns

$19,586

Lake Meade Dam

City of Suffolk/Owned by City of Portsmouth

Engineering studies to evaluate static, hydrologic, and seismic failure modes to address public safety concerns

$65,600

    Total for Dam Safety Projects $656,039


Flood Prevention and Protection Assistance Projects

Community Name Locality Project Type Grant Amount
Town of Abingdon

Town of Abingdon

Flood Prevention and Protection Outreach and Education

$50,000

PlanRVA (Richmond Regional PDC)

Richmond Region PDC

Flood Prevention and Protection Outreach and Education

$20,000

    Total for Flood Prevention and Protection Assistance Projects $70,000

 

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