Jordan's Point Dam Removal
Figure 2: Showing where the crib dam was located in relation to the old Jordan's Point concrete dam that was later added
Figure 1: Google Maps location showing where Jordan's Point Park ( the site of the Jordan' Point Dam) is located within Virginia
There has been a nationwide push to remove aging dams to improve public safety, restore natural river flow and support fish migration. In Lexington, this issue is especially important due to a fatal accident in 2006 caused by the dam's hydraulic conditions and subsequent inspections that identified structural concerns. Through this project, I aimed to better understand dam hydraulics and how dam removal can improve community safety and ecological connectivity.
The Jordan’s Point Dam sat on the Maury River near the town of Lexington, Virginia. The original dam was a crib dam, a type of dam primarily constructed from stone and timber. It was originally built to control the flow of the Maury River so that a nearby mill could use the river’s energy to power its operations. The last major reconstruction occurred in 1911, when the dam was completely rebuilt in concrete. This dam was built a short distance upstream of the original dam. By the 2000s, the dam was aging and had become unsafe, leading to the decision to either replace it or remove it entirely. In 2019, the dam was removed — the same year that 26 other states also removed dams.
MOTIVATION
BACKGROUND
Kayla Buelling is a undergraduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison studying Civil Engineering. I will be going into the construction management field after graduating from college.
About the Author
Disclaimer: This website presents an educational analysis of stream and river hydraulics using HEC-RAS. The modeling is based on simplified assumptions, estimated inputs, and limited available data. All results are for academic purposes only and are not intended for design, regulatory, or implementation use.
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