Scotts Mill Dam dam
Scotts Mill Dam
Scotts Mill Dam, also known as Lynchburg Dam, is a private-owned structure located in Lynchburg, Virginia, along the James River mainstem. It serves primarily as a water supply source with a storage capacity of 957 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 38,370 cubic feet per second. The dam is classified as a masonry type, specifically a buttress and multi-arch design, with a height of 11 feet and a length of 905 feet.
Despite being considered a low hazard potential structure with fair condition assessment, Scotts Mill Dam is regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Virginia. It is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway and has undergone inspection as recent as March 2021, with an inspection frequency of once per year. The dam's risk assessment is moderate, indicating a potential for moderate consequences in the event of failure.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts may find Scotts Mill Dam to be an intriguing case study due to its historical significance in providing water supply and supporting recreational activities in the region. The dam's location, design characteristics, and regulatory oversight offer valuable insights into the intersection of infrastructure management, environmental conservation, and public safety in the context of water resource management. Further research on the dam's risk management measures and emergency preparedness plans could provide valuable lessons for sustainable dam operation and maintenance practices in the face of changing climate 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 Scotts Mill Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| James River At Holcomb Rock | 1,130 cfs | → |
| Big Otter River Near Bedford | 53 cfs | → |
| Big Otter River Near Evington | 89 cfs | → |
| James River At Bent Creek | 1,210 cfs | → |
| Piney River At Piney River | 21 cfs | → |
| Pedlar River At Forest Road Near Buena Vista | 12 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Scotts Mill Dam.
Boat launches
- Clemmons Lake Trail Lynchburg
- Monacan Park Road 1354, Amherst County
- Elon Road Amherst County
- Richmond Highway Appomattox County
- Pittsylvania Avenue Altavista
- Railroad Avenue Campbell County
Campgrounds
- Otter Creek - Blue Ridge Parkway
- Otter Creek Recreation Area
- Town Shelter (With Shower, Toilet & Electricity)
- Hopper Creek Group Campground
- James River State Park
- Oronoco
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Farmville
- 1 Mile Southeast Of Buchanan (At End Of Nfs Land) To Snowden Dam Reservoir
- Top Of Apple Orchards Falls To Confluence Of North Creek With Jennings Creek
- Nf Boundary Along The South Fork Tye River Near Fdt 526 And State Highway 56 To Town Of Nash
- Headwaters South Of Flint Mountain To St. Mary's Wilderness Boundary
- Segment A--Route 42 Bridge To Confluence With Jackson River
Track Scotts Mill 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 Scotts Mill Dam
Where does the data for Scotts Mill 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 Low 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 Scotts Mill Dam.