The Big Island Dam is a hydroelectric generation facility on the James River near the community of Big Island, Virginia. The project includes a gravity dam spanning the left side of river and a power house on the right bank which contain hydroelectric generation equipment.[3] The dam is located adjacent to and integrated with the large Georgia Pacific paper mill at this location.

Big Island Dam
Location of Big Island Dam in Virginia
Location	Bedford County, Virginia / Amherst County, Virginia, U.S.
Coordinates	37°32′10.39″N 79°21′24.71″W
Purpose	Hydroelectric
Status	In use
Opening date	1850
Owner(s)	GP Big Island, LLC (Georgia Pacific Corporation)
Operator(s)	GP Big Island, LLC (Georgia Pacific Corporation)
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Gravity
Impounds	James River
Height	15 ft (4.6 m)
Length	657 ft (200 m)
Power Station
Operator(s)	GP Big Island, LLC (Georgia Pacific Corporation)
Hydraulic head	18 ft (5.5 m)
Installed capacity	480 KW[1]
FERC Number: P-2902[2]

The dam is located downstream of the nearby Bedford Hydropower Project and is the last in a series of three dams within the span of five miles as the river crosses the Blue Ridge Mountains.

References