West Creek Dam dam
West Creek Dam
West Creek Dam, located in Goochland, Virginia, is a privately owned structure designed for flood risk reduction along the tributary of Tuckahoe Creek. Standing at a height of 19 feet and spanning 1400 feet in length, this earth dam has a storage capacity of 645 acre-feet. While the hazard potential and condition assessment of the dam are currently listed as undetermined and not rated, the state of Virginia regulates, inspects, and enforces safety standards for this structure.
Despite the lack of specific information on its completion date and surface area, West Creek Dam remains a crucial asset in managing water resources and mitigating flood risks in the region. The Department of Conservation and Recreation oversees its regulatory and inspection processes, ensuring that the dam meets safety standards. With a primary purpose of flood risk reduction, the dam serves as a vital component of the local water infrastructure, contributing to the overall resilience of the area against potential water-related disasters.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the significance of structures like West Creek Dam is essential in safeguarding communities and ecosystems from the impacts of extreme weather events. While its current condition assessment may be pending, the ongoing regulatory oversight and inspection protocols demonstrate a commitment to maintaining the integrity and functionality of this critical flood risk reduction asset. By staying informed and engaged with initiatives like the state-permitted West Creek Dam, enthusiasts can contribute to the sustainable management of water resources and climate adaptation efforts in the region.
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 West Creek Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| James River And Kanawha Canal Near Richmond | 153 cfs | → |
| James River Near Richmond | 1,610 cfs | → |
| Fine Creek At Fine Creek Mills | 2 cfs | → |
| South Anna River Near Ashland | 51 cfs | → |
| Appomattox River At Mattoax | 145 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Doswell | 9 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near West Creek Dam.
Track West Creek 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 West Creek Dam
Where does the data for West Creek 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 West Creek Dam.