Virginia has awarded more than $500,000 in state grants to enhance safety at more than 20 dams and create tools to inform Virginians about flood risk.
The grants are from the Virginia Dam Safety, Flood Prevention and Protection Assistance Fund. The fund is managed by the Virginia Resources Authority 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.
“These grants will kick-start planning and engineering work needed to keep people and property safe,” DCR Director Clyde E. Cristman said. “As we are in hurricane season in the Mid-Atlantic, it’s important to remember that flooding is the most common and costly natural disaster. I’m pleased that dam owners and communities across Virginia are leveraging these funds to increase public safety.”
The fund was established to provide 50-50 matching grants to dam owners whose dams are under state regulation. Grants are also available to help local governments improve strategies for flood prevention and protection. Grants are awarded to private and public entities.
Information about the Virginia Dam Safety, Flood Prevention and Protection Assistance Fund is available at http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/dam-safety-and-floodplains/dsfpm-grants.
Below is a summary of each grant approved by the board.
| Project Location | Community Name or Dam Name | Project Type | Funding |
| Amherst County | Winton Country Club Dam | Emergency Plan Development (Emergency Action Plan or Emergency Preparedness Plan) | $3,400.00 |
| Amherst County | Winton Country Club Dam | Dam Break Inundation Zone Analysis, Mapping and Digitization | $8,350.00 |
| Chesterfield County | Woodland Pond | Dam Break Inundation Zone Analysis, Mapping and Digitization | $6,980.00 |
| City of Lynchburg | Lakeland Dam | Emergency Plan Development (Emergency Action Plan or Emergency Preparedness Plan) | $3,000.00 |
| City of Lynchburg | Lake Summit Dam | Principal and/or Emergency Spillway and Repair/Replacement Plan | $45,710.00 |
| City of Suffolk | Lake Meade Dam | Spillway Capacity or Overtopping Analysis | $10,000.00 |
| City of Suffolk | Lake Meade Dam | Alternatives Analysis for Spillway Capacity and Stability | $10,000.00 |
| City of Suffolk | Lake Meade Dam | Dam Break Inundation Zone Analysis, Mapping and Digitization | $30,000.00 |
| Goochland County | Westview Dam | Emergency Plan Development (Emergency Action Plan or Emergency Preparedness Plan) | $3,400.00 |
| Goochland County | Westview Dam | Dam Break Inundation Zone Analysis, Mapping and Digitization | $9,000.00 |
| Hanover County | Charter Lake | Emergency Plan Development (Emergency Action Plan or Emergency Preparedness Plan) | $3,125.00 |
| James City County | Horne’s Lake Dam | Emergency Plan Development (Emergency Action Plan or Emergency Preparedness Plan) | $2,875.00 |
| Loudoun County | Brambleton Land Bay 3 Pond 6 Dam | Dam Primary Mechanical Flow Control Evaluation and Repair Plan (Valves, Siphons, etc.) Dam or Lake Drain/Low Level Outlet Analysis and Repair Plan | $4,000.00 |
| Loudoun County | Brambleton Land Bay 3 Pond 6 Dam | Principal and/or Emergency Spillway and Repair/Replacement Plan | $4,750.00 |
| Loudoun County | Brambleton Land Bay 3 Pond 6 Dam | Dam Break Inundation Zone Analysis, Mapping and Digitization | $15,000.00 |
| Loudoun County | Richmond Square Dam | Alternatives Analysis for Spillway Capacity and Stability | $5,000.00 |
| Loudoun County | Richmond Square Dam | Geotechnical Investigation and/or Structural Analysis for Dam/Spillway Stability | $7,500.00 |
| Loudoun County | Richmond Square Dam | Emergency Plan Development (Emergency Action Plan or Emergency Preparedness Plan) | $9,250.00 |
| Loudoun County | Richmond Square Dam | Dam Break Inundation Zone Analysis, Mapping and Digitization | $18,250.00 |
| Middle Peninsula Planning District | Middle Peninsula Planning District | Creating tools or applications to identify, aggregate or display information on flood risk. | $28,172.63 |
| Pittsylvania County | Brushy Mountain Dam | Probable Maximum Precipitation Impact Analysis and Certification | $500.00 |
| Pittsylvania County | Brushy Mountain Dam | Principal and/or Emergency Spillway and Repair/Replacement Plan | $2,350.00 |
| Powhatan County | Upper Byers Dam | Probable Maximum Precipitation Impact Analysis and Certification | $1,140.00 |
| Prince Edward County | Bush River Dam No. 12 | Probable Maximum Precipitation Impact Analysis and Certification | $500.00 |
| Prince Edward County | Bush River Dam No. 12 | Spillway Capacity or Overtopping Analysis | $4,000.00 |
| Prince Edward County | Poplar Hill Dam | Emergency Plan Development (Emergency Action Plan or Emergency Preparedness Plan) | $3,400.00 |
| Prince Edward County | Poplar Hill Dam | Dam Break Inundation Zone Analysis, Mapping, and Digitization | $11,250.00 |
| Pulaski County | Gatewood Dam | Probable Maximum Precipitation Impact Analysis and Certification | $1,000.00 |
| Pulaski County | Gatewood Dam | Dam Primary Mechanical Flow Control Evaluation and Repair Plan (Valves, Siphons, etc.) Dam or Lake Drain/Low Level Outlet Analysis and Repair Plan | $7,500.00 |
| Pulaski County | Gatewood Dam | Analyses and Repair/Replacement of Erosion or Deteriorated Appurtenant Structures | $10,000.00 |
| Pulaski County | Gatewood Dam | Geotechnical Investigation and/or Structural Analysis for Dam/Spillway Stability | $25,000.00 |
| Rockbridge County | Cold Sulphur Springs Dam | Dam Break Inundation Zone Analysis, Mapping and Digitization | $6,400.00 |
| Rockingham County | Massanutten Dam | Analyses and Repair/Replacement of Erosion or Deteriorated Appurtenant Structures | $11,000.00 |
| Spotsylvania County | Wilderness Dam | Dam Graded Filter Drains, Toe Drains, Drainpipes and/or /Underdrain Analysis and Plan | $600.00 |
| Spotsylvania County | Indian Acres Dam | Geotechnical Investigation and/or Structural Analysis for Dam/Spillway Stability | $14,398.87 |
| Stafford County | Walden Ten No. 1 | Principal and/or Emergency Spillway and Repair/Replacement Plan | $7,500.00 |
| Stafford County | Kennedy Dam | Principal and/or Emergency Spillway and Repair/Replacement Plan | $25,563.63 |
| Town of Grundy | Town of Grundy | Conducting hydrologic and hydraulic studies of floodplains. | $125,000.00 |
| Town of Woodbridge | Prince William County | Developing flood warning and response systems, which may include gauge installation, to notify residents of potential emergency flooding events. | $80,000.00 |
| York County | Waller Mill Dam | Probable Maximum Precipitation Impact Analysis and Certification | $3,750.00 |
| $568,615.13 |
