Overview

Virginia Smith Dam is in an area of northwest-southwest trending sand dunes in which the Calamus River has cut a wide, shallow valley. The abutments of the dam were constructed in sand dunes that occur to the northeast of about station 69+50 and to the southeast of about station 29+00. Relief of individual dune ridges ranges between 30 and 70 feet. The valley section between about station 29+00 and about station 69+50 contains fluvial deposits of the present-day Calamus River and an older fluvial sequence deposited before the present river system was established. The modern Calamus River system consists of the river channel, flood plain and low terrace that occur between low escarpments near station 34+00 and station 43+50. The older portion of the valley occurs between the margins of the predominant dune ridges and the low scarps mentioned above. Between about station 43+50 and station 69+50 on the southeast (left) side of the valley, and about station 29+00 and about station 34+00 on the southwest (right) side of the valley. Fluvial deposits and buried peat occur in these areas, but are masked by about 5 to 20 feet of fine, eolian sand reworked from dune sand and flood plain deposits.

General

Dimensions

Hydraulics & Hydrology