Beaver Dam dam
Beaver Dam
Beaver Dam, located on Beaverdam Creek in Louisa, Virginia, is a privately owned earth dam primarily used for recreation purposes. With a height of 23 feet and a storage capacity of 76 acre-feet, the dam provides opportunities for leisure activities in the area. Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, this dam is subject to state regulation, inspection, and enforcement to ensure its structural integrity and safety.
Although the hazard potential of Beaver Dam is classified as "Undetermined," its condition assessment as of June 2021 was deemed "Unsatisfactory." With an inspection frequency of once a year, efforts are being made to maintain and improve the dam's safety and functionality. Despite its current condition, Beaver Dam remains a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts and serves as a vital resource for water-based recreational activities in the region.
In the care of private ownership and state oversight, Beaver Dam represents the intersection of water resource management and climate resilience. Its role in providing recreational opportunities while adhering to regulatory standards underscores the importance of sustainable dam infrastructure in mitigating potential risks and enhancing community safety in the face of changing environmental conditions.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Beaver Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rivanna River At Palmyra | 120 cfs | → |
| N F Rivanna River Near Earlysville | 29 cfs | → |
| Hardware River Bl Briery Run Nr Scottsville | 27 cfs | → |
| Moormans River Near Free Union | 15 cfs | → |
| Rapidan River Near Ruckersville | 44 cfs | → |
| Mechums River Near White Hall | 22 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Beaver Dam.
Boat launches
- South Boston Road 3315, Fluvanna County
- River Anne Palmyra
- Columbia Road Columbia
- Boat Landing Lane Buckingham County
- River Trail Powhatan County
- River Launch Road Powhatan County
Campgrounds
- Christopher Run Campground
- Lake Anna State Park
- Girl Scout Camp
- Loft Mountain - Shenandoah National Park
- Loft Mountain Campground
- Westview On The James
Fishing spots
- Bealers Ferry Boat Launch
- Bealers Ferry Pond Accessible Fishing Site
- Moody Boat Launch
- Batzell Boat Launch
Track Beaver Dam in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Beaver Dam
Where does the data for Beaver Dam come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Undetermined hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Beaver Dam.