Dam Maintenance

The District owns and operates eight flood-control structures (dams) in Rockingham County. An additional three dams within the SVSWCD service area are owned and operated by their associated localities.

NRCS/SVSWCD performing annual owner’s inspections

In an effort to comply with state dam safety regulations, annual owner’s inspections are conducted and routine maintenance performed.

SVSWCD Directors attending annual owner’s inspections

The District works with the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), the U.S. Forest Service, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), and other cooperating agencies to ensure the safety of our local watersheds.

More information on dam safety

‘Water and Runoff’

See how state agencies manage water and runoff at Hone Quarry Dam in Rockingham County in this PBS Virginia Home Grown episode.

Look back at the Flood of ’85:

The Flood: 10 Years Later Part I

The Flood: 10 Years Later Part II

Dam Procurement

The Shenandoah Valley Soil and Water Conservation District conducts regular maintenance activities on the dams.

Dam Terminology

Shenandoah Valley Soil & Water Conservation District (SVSWCD) Dams

Briery Branch Dam

▪Construction date: April 1966

▪Construction cost: $485,825.81

▪Dam type: earthen flood control

▪Storage capacity at flood pool: 554.3 million gallons

▪Drainage area (acres): 6,080

▪Watershed: Lower North River

▪Dam height (feet): 88

▪Most recent spillway activation: Election Day Flood 1985

▪Location: U.S. Forest Service land

Dry River Dam

▪Construction date: September 1976

▪Construction cost: $2,230,502.07

▪Dam type: earthen flood control

▪Storage capacity at flood pool: 1,116.4 million gallons

▪Drainage area (acres): 12,032

▪Watershed: Lower North River

▪Dam height (feet): 113

▪Number of households downstream: 2,260

▪Most recent spillway activation: Election Day Flood 1985

▪Location: private land

Dry Run Dam

▪Construction date: April 1969

▪Construction cost: —

▪Dam type: earthen flood control

▪Drainage area (acres): 2,752

▪Watershed: Lower North River

▪Dam height (feet): 76

▪Most recent spillway activation: Election Day Flood 1985

▪Location: City of Harrisonburg/Forest Service land

Hog Pen Dam

▪Construction date: October 1984

▪Construction cost: $1,550,000.00

▪Dam type: earthen flood control

▪Storage capacity at flood pool: 163.3 million gallons

▪Drainage area (acres): 1,792

▪Watershed: Shoemaker River

▪Dam height (feet): 74

▪Number of households downstream: 55

▪Most recent spillway activation: Election Day Flood 1985*

*Dam was still under construction during the flood, and water flowed over top of the uncompleted dam.

▪Location: U.S. Forest Service land

Hone Quarry Dam

▪Construction date: April 1966

▪Construction cost: $382,952.82

▪Dam type: earthen flood control

▪Storage capacity at flood pool: 415.8 million gallons

▪Drainage area (acres): 5,120

▪Watershed: Lower North River

▪Dam height (feet): 94

▪Most recent spillway activation: Election Day Flood 1985

▪Located On: U.S. Forest Service land

Northwoods Dam

▪Construction date: December 1977

▪Construction cost: $599,605.13

▪Dam type: earthen flood control

▪Storage capacity at flood pool: 115.6 million gallons

▪Drainage area (acres): 1,152

▪Watershed: Shoemaker River

▪Dam height (feet): 52

▪Number of households downstream: 69

▪Most recent spillway activation: Election Day Flood 1985

▪Location: private land

Slate Lick Dam

▪Construction date: February 1982

▪Construction cost: $1,400,000.00

▪Dam type: earthen flood control

▪Storage capacity at flood pool: 480 million gallons

▪Drainage Area (acres): 3,904

▪Watershed: Shoemaker River

▪Dam height (feet): 86

▪Number of households fownstream: 126

▪Most recent spillway activation: Election Day Flood 1985

▪Location: U.S. Forest Service land

Union Springs Dam

▪Construction date: October 1965

▪Construction cost: $178,633.00

▪Dam type: earthen flood control

▪Storage capacity at flood pool: 289.5 million gallons

▪Drainage area (acres): 3,328

▪Watershed: Lower North River

▪Dam height (feet): 87

▪Most recent spillway activation: Election Day Flood 1985

▪Location: private land

Locality Dams

These dams are located within the SVSWCD service area but are owned and operated by the localities in which they lie.

Arrowhead Dam

▪Construction date: February 1966

▪Construction cost: —

▪Dam type: earthen flood control

▪Drainage area (acres): 1,677

▪Watershed: Dry Run River

▪Dam height (feet): 59

▪Number of households downstream: 217

▪Most recent spillway activation: Election Day Flood 1985

▪Ownership: Town of Luray

Morningstar Dam

▪Construction date: February 1966

▪Construction cost: —

▪Dam type: earthen flood control

▪Drainage area (acres): 1,331

▪Watershed: Dry Run River

▪Dam height (feet): 81

▪Number of households downstream: 222

▪Most recent spillway activation: Election Day Flood 1985

▪Ownership: Town of Luray

Switzer Dam

▪Construction date: May 1972

▪Construction cost: $3,276,318.95

▪Dam type: municipality water storage & earthen flood control

▪Storage capacity at flood pool: 2,285.8 million gallons

▪Drainage area (acres): 9,408

▪Watershed: Lower North River

▪Dam height (feet): 143

▪Most recent spillway activation: Election Day Flood 1985

▪Ownership: City of Harrisonburg