‘Evolving emergency’ at Gardy’s Millpond in Northern Neck, dam at risk of ‘imminent failure’

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- The public is asked to stay away from Gardy's Millpond in Virginia's Northern Neck due to an "evolving emergency" with its dam, which is at risk of "imminent failure."

The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR), has closed the public boat ramp at Gardy's Millpond, as well as the nearby Gardy's Mill Road, as of May 12 due to the possible "imminent failure" of its dam.

The dam is located in Northumberland County, while Gardy's Millpond itself sits on the border between Northumberland and Westmoreland counties. It's on the Hampton Hall Branch tributary of the Yeocomico River, which feeds into the Potomac River.

On Saturday, May 10, DWR was alerted to a possible breach of the dam by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). When DWR staff arrived, they found erosion around one of the dam's emergency spillways.

After informing relevant authorities, DWR staff began work to lower the upstream reservoir's surface elevation below the breach, which would lessen further damage to the dam.

A day later, on Sunday, May 11, DWR declared an emergency at the dam due to its "imminent failure."

As of Monday evening, a DWR contractor is at the dam "beginning emergency stabilization." Per the release, such efforts will include placing sandbags around the erosion, which will reduce damage to the dam as well as associated infrastructure.

Gardy's Mill Road passes over two of the dam's spillways and along its embankment crest. To ensure public safety, it will remain closed to both vehicle and pedestrian traffic until further notice, pending both the emergency declaration being cleared and "more detailed engineering assessments" being performed.

Per DWR, the dam at Gardy's Millpond has been maintained by the agency since 1969 and it was most recently inspected in Sept. 2024. It is classified under state damn safety regulations as "low hazard."

"'Low hazard" dams are ones that, upon failure, would lead to no expected loss of life or significant economic damage," DWR said.

"This is an evolving situation and the Department urges the public to stay clear of the area and heed all signage and road closures," DWR said. "This ensures the safety of the public and gives the Department space to work safely on stabilizing the dam quickly as heavy rains are anticipated in the area over the next few days."

Gardy's Millpond Dam was breached in 1985 during Hurricane Bob. Following that breach, a new emergency spillway was added. In 2005, repairs were made at the dam after a "piping condition" was identified.