Nohe: Dam Not Expected to Fail; Water Would Not Impact Homes

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. — An 85-year-old structure holding back the Occoquan River so pleasure boaters can use Lake Jackson is leaking, Prince William Coles District Supervisor Marty Nohe said Tuesday during a meeting of the county’s Board of Supervisors.

Just the thought of a leaking dam has a way of making those who live near it, or downstream, feel uneasy. But officials say they are on top of the situation and have brought in a contractor to figure out why two “toe drains” at the bottom of the dam are leaking.

The dam is in Nohe’s Magisterial District, and in a Q and A session, and he talked with Potomac Local News about the work being done there and the projected severity of the problem.

PLN: What contractor has been brought in to review issues with the dam?

Nohe: The Michael Baker Corporation

PLN: How many homes / residents might be affected by a safety issue with the dam?

Nohe: At this time the issue at the dam is not considered to be a major safety concern. It is my understanding that if the dam were to fail, which is considered highly unlikely, the property of two downstream residents would be inundated with water (which would eventually recede to an undetermined level), but not inundated to the point that it would reach their homes.

PLN: What are those residents being told?

Nohe: The county has been in constant communication with the residents of the Lake Jackson community. My office, as well as staff from the Department of Public Works, have held two community meetings to brief the residents.

I have also sent out weekly emails to update the residents on the status of the situation, and there is a page on the County’s website dedicated to providing the current status.

The contractor’s full report is available has been made available to the public online.