Lake Barcroft Dam

Comments

• 
  Wikid

  Looks like an hydraulically controlled shovel dam. Able to dump the lake into the ravine of 'Four Mile Run'.

  18 years ago | reply | hide comment
• 
  armentim

  The lake was designed as a reservoir by George Washington, the former U.S. President. In 1972, Hurricane Agnes passed over the area. The hurricane caused so much rain that the lake level rose above the top of the dam that controls the flow from the lake. This resulted in the lake overflowing, and rapidly eroding the land on either side of the dam. The lake emptied catastrophically, flooding areas of downstream Alexandria, Virginia. The lake was dry for years during the early 1970s while the damaged dam was rebuilt. Had the dam's floodgate been lowered initially, some believe the incident could have been prevented. Ironically, the floodgate of the dam was not lowered for fear that doing so would flood Alexandria.

  18 years ago | reply | hide comment
• 
  Wikid

  The subject is still a bit touchy, but you can read more at the Lake Barcroft Watershed Improvement District site, and see old dam photos at http://www.lakebarcroftwid.com/photos.html

  18 years ago | reply | hide comment