The United States Army Corps of Engineers completed a Dam Safety Evaluation Report on the Goshen Dam at the current Goshen Scout Camps in August 2006. The Executive Summary of the report includes the findings and conclusions that:• The Dam is a “High” hazard dam that “potentially threatens the downstream communities of Wilson Springs and Rockbridge Baths.”
• Failure of Goshen Dam would result in an estimated $25.4 million in flood damages for the Base Safety Condition (1/2 of the probable maximum flood)
• Probable threatened population at risk from Dam failure is 265 people
• Potential for loss of life of 28 people
The report recommends that the dam be repaired at a cost of $6 million for design and construction, paid for by the Federal Government, with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation responsible for “all costs in excess of this amount.” The authority for this use of taxpayer funds to repair a dangerous privately owned dam is found in the Water Resources Development Act of 1996. [page 102]
Certainly this dangerous situation should be figured into any evaluation and analysis of sites.
