The John H. Kerr Dam and Reservoir was named for the North Carolina Congressman who took a prominent role in supporting its construction. However, particularly in Virginia, it is not unusual to hear the reservoir referred to as Buggs Island Lake - it's original name. Buggs Island is a 169-acre island located just down stream of the dam.
The dam provides flood control for the Roanoke River Basin and also produces hydroelectric power for use in Virginia and North Carolina. The dam was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers beginning in 1946 and was completed in 1953. It is the larger of two Corps dams that manage water resources in the Roanoke River Basin, the other being Philpott that is located about 75 miles upstream.
The dam itself is over a half a mile long and 144 feet high and is comprised of over a half a million cubic yards of concrete. The watershed is 7,800 square miles!
"OUR HATS ARE OFF" TO THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS for a job well done in managing the lake that provides such wonderful recreational facilities for the public. In addition to that, the Kerr and Philpott dams have returned over $46.38 million of NET REVENUES to the U.S. Government since their construction. Not only are these projects paying for themselves but they are actually earning money for each and every one of us!