Lake Monticello Dam dam
Lake Monticello Dam
Lake Monticello Dam, located in Fluvanna, Virginia, stands as a testament to the importance of water resource management for recreational purposes. This private-owned earth dam, with a height of 85 feet and a length of 1000 feet, was built to create Lake Monticello - a reservoir with a normal storage capacity of 12,232 acre-feet and a surface area of 351 acres. The dam, situated on Boston Creek, is regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Virginia.
Despite its satisfactory condition assessment, Lake Monticello Dam has a high hazard potential, highlighting the need for regular inspections and emergency preparedness. The dam was last inspected in November 2019, with a frequency of once a year. While the dam does not fall under the jurisdiction of the US Army Corps of Engineers, it plays a crucial role in providing recreational opportunities for the local community and visitors alike.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate change will find Lake Monticello Dam to be a fascinating example of how human intervention can create valuable water bodies for recreational purposes. As climate change continues to impact water resources worldwide, the management and upkeep of dams like Lake Monticello become increasingly crucial in ensuring both safety and sustainability for future generations.
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 Lake Monticello Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rivanna River At Palmyra | 143 cfs | → |
| Hardware River Bl Briery Run Nr Scottsville | 28 cfs | → |
| James River At Scottsville | 1,710 cfs | → |
| Slate River Near Arvonia | 51 cfs | → |
| N F Rivanna River Near Earlysville | 31 cfs | → |
| James River At Cartersville | 1,870 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Monticello Dam.
Boat launches
- South Boston Road 3315, Fluvanna County
- River Anne Palmyra
- Columbia Road Columbia
- Boat Landing Lane Buckingham County
- Howardsville Turnpike 11001, Albemarle County
- River Trail Powhatan County
Campgrounds
- Westview On The James
- Christopher Run Campground
- Bear Creek Lake State Park
- Girl Scout Camp
- Lake Anna State Park
- Loft Mountain - Shenandoah National Park
Track Lake Monticello 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 Lake Monticello Dam
Where does the data for Lake Monticello 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 High 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 Lake Monticello Dam.