Sixteen flood control dams were built in Augusta County between 1954 and 1980 under federal watershed projects known as Public Law 534 and Public Law 566. Eleven of these structures were co-sponsored by the Headwaters Soil and Water Conservation District and the District has “Operation and Maintenance” responsibilities for these 11 structures. The remaining five were co-sponsored by other state, federal and local agencies.

Thirteen of these dams were built on tributaries of the South River above Waynesboro to protect both city and county residents. Three dams were built on tributaries of the North River to protect Stokesville and small communities downstream.

Happy Hollow, the first dam completed, is 50 years old. Several others are just a few years away from reaching that 50-year mark. Headwaters, the City of Waynesboro and the County of Augusta have just recently entered into a supplemental agreement, to the original work plan, that will lead to the rehabilitation of three dams (Toms Branch, Robinson Hollow, and Inch Branch). These three structures protect 191 homes, 10 businesses and 10 private and public bridges. It is estimated that the failure of any one of these could result in a minimum of $2.4 million in damages.

The Integrated Flood Observing and Warning System (IFLOWS) have been installed on nine of the dams in Augusta County. The system provides both rainfall data and the level of the flood pool behind the dams. The information is transmitted to the Emergency Operations Center and the “real time” data is also available to the public over the internet.

The District owns a tractor and bush hog for mowing the dams.