Blairs Valley Dam dam
Blairs Valley Dam
Blairs Valley Dam, also known as Indian Springs Wildlife Management Area, is a state-owned earth dam located in Washington County, Maryland. Completed in 1968, the dam stands at a height of 34 feet and stretches 670 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 679 acre-feet and a surface area of 32.2 acres. Situated on the Little Conococheague Creek, the primary purpose of the dam is for recreation, offering opportunities for water-based activities in the surrounding area.
Despite its recreational benefits, Blairs Valley Dam poses a high hazard potential and has been rated as being in poor condition, with a moderate risk assessment. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with a width of 160 feet, and it has a maximum discharge capacity of 4150 cubic feet per second. With the last inspection conducted in November 2021 and a frequency of one inspection per year, the dam is subject to state regulation and enforcement by the Maryland Dam Safety agency.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in Blairs Valley Dam can explore its historical significance, construction details, and the ongoing efforts to address its maintenance and safety concerns. As a key feature in the local landscape, the dam serves as a focal point for environmental monitoring and risk management measures in the region. With its unique design and location, Blairs Valley Dam offers a compelling case study for understanding the intersection of water infrastructure, recreational use, and dam safety regulations in Maryland.
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 Blairs Valley Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Conococheague Creek At Fairview | 197 cfs | → |
| Potomac River At Hancock | 983 cfs | → |
| Back Creek Near Jones Springs | 24 cfs | → |
| Marsh Run At Grimes | 6 cfs | → |
| Tuscarora Creek Above Martinsburg | 3 cfs | → |
| Tonoloway Creek Near Needmore | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Blairs Valley Dam.
Boat launches
- Blairs Valley Lake
- Starliper Road Washington County
- Chesapeake And Ohio Canal Trail Washington County
- Chesapeake And Ohio Canal Trail Hancock
- Sleepy Creek Road Berkeley County
Campgrounds
- North Mountain Campsite
- North Mountain Hiker Biker Campsite
- Mccoys Ferry Campground
- Mccoys Ferry - C And O Canal National Park
- Licking Creek Campsite
- Licking Creek Hiker Biker Campsite
Fishing spots
- Blairs Valley Lake
- Chesapeake And Ohio Canal
- Potomac River Reservoir
- Sideling Hill Creek Put And Take Area
- Fifteenmile Creek
- Melagos Fising Spot
Paddle runs
- Begins South Of Largent To The Confluence With The Potomac At Great Cacapon
- Capon Bridge To Ends Just South Of Largent
- Headwaters Adjacent To Fdt 573 To State Route 622 Bridge
- State Route 675 At Edinburg, Va To State Highway 55 Southeast Of Strasburg, Va
- Wardensville To The Town Of Capon Bridge
Track Blairs Valley 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 Blairs Valley Dam
Where does the data for Blairs Valley 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 Blairs Valley Dam.