Department of Conservation and Recreation
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Department of Conservation and Recreation
Media inquiries: Please contact Dave Neudeck, dave.neudeck@dcr.virginia.gov, 804-786-5053.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: September 27, 2022
Contact: Rebecca Jones, Senior PR and Marketing Specialist, 804-786-2292, rebecca.jones@dcr.virginia.gov
Virginia dam owners urged to prioritize safety
(Editors: Follow this link to download an image. Photo caption: Hearthstone Lake Dam, which received Best Major Construction or Rehabilitation Project Award from the Virginia Lakes and Waterfronts Association in March. (Photo courtesy of DCR.))
RICHMOND — Hurricane season is ongoing — and with fall rains and winter storms just around the corner, Virginia’s dam safety officials are reminding dam owners of their responsibilities. Dam failures can result in catastrophic flooding, putting people and property at risk.
Virginia has more than 3,000 dams. In fact, all but two lakes in the commonwealth have dams. The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, the agency that oversees the state dam safety program, currently regulates more than 2,600 of those dams.
Most dams in Virginia are privately owned. Dam owners may be liable for damages to other people’s property, injuries or deaths resulting from the failure or malfunction of their dam.
DCR advises dam owners that they must do the following to be in compliance with the Virginia Dam Safety Act:
“Owners of state-regulated dams need to be aware of their responsibilities under the Virginia Dam Safety Act,” said Wendy Howard-Cooper, DCR director of dam safety and floodplain management. “We are committed to working with dam owners across the commonwealth to ensure that these structures are constructed, operated and maintained safely. We are also here for the general public, who may have questions or concerns about a dam in their community.”
Dam owners or residents with questions or concerns about dam safety compliance may contact DCR at www.dcr.virginia.gov/dam-outreach.
More information on DCR's dam safety program is available at https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/dam-safety-and-floodplains/dam-safety-index
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