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Gloucester County to seek up to $500,000 in state dam‑safety funds to upgrade spillway and add remote monitoring
Summary
County utilities staff will apply for a Department of Conservation and Recreation dam‑safety grant to fund spillway improvements and remote monitoring; the board voted to authorize the application after staff described a project cost of about $815,000 and the grant’s reimbursement‑upon‑completion terms.
The Gloucester County Board of Supervisors voted to authorize staff to apply for a Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation Dam Safety Flood Prevention and Protection Assistance Fund grant to improve the county’s reservoir spillway and add instrumentation for remote flow and depth monitoring.
Director of Utilities Katie Leg told the board the project has an estimated total cost of about $815,000; under program rules the county may request up to $500,000 or 70% of eligible costs (whichever is less). The proposed installation would mount a flow meter in a way that also reports depth in the outlet pipe, providing near‑real‑time data county staff could use to detect rising water levels and better anticipate potential flood events identified in the county’s inundation study. Leg said the monitoring component improved the project’s grant competitiveness.
The grant is a reimbursement program that requires project completion before the state issues payment, Leg noted. Commissioners asked clarifying questions about eligibility, other local dams, and timing; Leg said private dam owners had been present for informational webinars and must apply for their own projects. Following discussion, the board approved the resolution to apply for the grant by recorded roll call; the motion carried.
Next steps: staff will submit the application at the end of March and, if awarded, return with a contract and project schedule. The county will need to front costs and then seek reimbursement on completion under program rules.
