$900K coming from FEMA to upgrade Waller Mill reservoir dam
Following previous reclassification as high-hazard structure, Williamsburg plans structural upgrades; plus, cooling assistance, national trail days, Juneteenth celebration
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently announced it will provide $900,000 to help the City of Williamsburg upgrade the Waller Mill reservoir dam through its Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. According to the agency, the funding is meant for proactive risk-reduction measures and covers a wide range of eligible projects, including flood protection, infrastructure retrofitting, and drainage improvements.
The Williamsburg award is part of a broader announcement by the agency to distribute more than $28 million approved for communities across six Mid-Atlantic states and the District of Columbia. Other awards included $818,427 to the City of Baltimore, $645,160 to West Virginia highway administration and $230,000 to Delaware Emergency Management Agency.
The FEMA award to Williamsburg builds on a multi-year effort by the city to address the dam, dating back to at least 2020. According to the city’s FY27 Capital Improvement Plant totaling $2.59 million:
FY27: $388,000 total — $204,079 federal assistance, $54,421 state assistance, $129,500 city operating revenues
FY28: $1,100,750 total — $869,013 federal assistance, $231,737 state assistance
FY29: $1,100,750 total — $869,013 federal assistance, $231,737 state assistance
The city doesn’t expect the need to borrow funds for the upgrade. It is unclear how the announced FEMA award will affect the figures in the city’s budget.
Waller Mill Reservoir is the primary drinking water source for the City of Williamsburg and portions of York County and James City County. The city states that the approximately 350-acre reservoir holds about 1.5 billion gallons of water and the adjacent water treatment plant treats and distributes an average of 2.8 to 3.0 million gallons per day. Queens Creek was dammed during World War II to create a water source for nearby Camp Peary, giving rise to what is now Waller Mill Reservoir. The City of Williamsburg purchased the reservoir from the federal government in 1944, and the water treatment plant has been in operation since 1945.
Under new state regulations, the dam was reclassified from low hazard to high hazard, triggering more stringent oversight and an engineering study that found the earthen dam would overtop in a worst-case rainfall event. That the dam now requires significant structural upgrades after eight decades of service reflects a pattern seen across the country. A major concern for the dam at Waller Mill is overtopping, which occurs when water spills over the top of a dam due to inadequate spillway design, debris blockage, or structural settling. These occurrences are the leading cause of dam failures in the United States, accounting for roughly 34 percent of all failures, according to the Association of State Dam Safety Officials.
Waller Mill Dam Break Risk Area
“This is the projected area of innundation in the event of a catastrophic break in the Waller Mill Reservoir Dam. The analysis was done by engineers responsible for the dam, as required by Federal statutes, and then provided to York County to map and analyze with regard to property damage and impact.” (Source: York County/ArcGIS)
In 2019 the Associated Press reported at least 1,680 high-hazard dams across the country rated in poor or unsatisfactory condition. North Carolina alone had 168 such dams, and a series of extreme rainstorms over a 12-month period starting in October 2015 caused 83 state-regulated dams to fail across North Carolina and South Carolina. The AP quoted a Stanford University dam safety researcher who noted that many dams were designed to handle floods of a given size, and that more extreme weather events can push them beyond those limits.
Additional information:
In other news …
Virginia Cooling Assistance applications open June 15 through August 17 The Virginia Department of Social Services will accept Cooling Assistance applications from June 15 through August 17, 2026, providing eligible low-income households with cooling equipment, repairs, or help with electricity costs. To qualify, applicants must be local residents responsible for cooling costs with at least one household member who is 60 or older, living with a disability, or under age 6. Gross monthly income limits apply: $1,995 for a one-person household and $4,125 for a four-person household. James City County residents can apply online at commonhelp.virginia.gov, by phone at 855-635-4370 (Mon–Fri, 7 a.m.–6 p.m.), or in person at James City County Social Services, 5249 Olde Towne Road, Williamsburg. Assistance is first-come, first-served while funding lasts.
City of Williamsburg Parks and Recreation Announces National Trails Day Celebration The City of Williamsburg Parks and Recreation Department announces a National Trails Day celebration at Waller Mill Park, offering visitors the chance to explore trails and waterways while enjoying outdoor recreation. Participants who complete either a scavenger hike or paddling activity will receive a custom event button and complimentary freeze pop. Kayak and canoe rentals are available at the park office, or participants may bring their own paddlecraft. A valid photo ID and credit card are required for rental pre-authorization. Children ages 12 through 15 must be accompanied by an adult while on the water, while participants 16 and older with valid photo identification may paddle independently. All participants under 18 years old must have a signed parental waiver on file before participating in water activities.
James City County Hosts Juneteenth Celebration at Freedom Park James City County Government reports that Freedom Fest, a Juneteenth celebration, will take place on Saturday, June 13, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Freedom Park in Williamsburg. The event will honor America’s First Free Black Settlement in collaboration with the NAACP. The celebration will feature live music, readings, and performances alongside a presentation on the history of the Juneteenth holiday. Local vendors and food will be available for purchase throughout the event. Freedom Park is located at 5537 Centerville Road, Williamsburg, VA 23188.
Navy solicits bids for weapons magazines construction at Yorktown NAVFACSYSCOM Mid-Atlantic has opened bidding for a design-bid-build project involving weapons magazines at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, with proposals due by June 16, 2026 at 2:00 PM Eastern Time. The project falls under Heavy and Civil Engineering classifications. Solicitation documents are available on SAM.gov; contractors needing full specifications should contact Jessica Grosso at jessica.m.grosso.civ@us.navy.mil or 757-433-3623.
City of Williamsburg Cancels Scheduled City Council Work Session The City of Williamsburg reports that the City Council work session originally scheduled for Monday, June 8, 2026 has been canceled. The meeting was set to take place at Stryker Center located at 412 N. Boundary Street at 4:00 p.m. Residents who had planned to attend the work session should note this cancellation. For information about rescheduled meetings or other City Council activities, residents are encouraged to visit the City of Williamsburg website or contact the Municipal Building at 401 Lafayette Street.
