Wildon Grove Dam dam
Wildon Grove Dam
Wildon Grove Dam, located in Albemarle, Virginia, is a private-owned Earth dam with a primary purpose of serving as a Fish and Wildlife Pond. The dam stands at a height of 17 feet and spans a length of 550 feet, with a storage capacity of 132 acre-feet. Situated on a tributary of Happy Creek, the dam is regulated by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, ensuring state jurisdiction, permitting, inspection, and enforcement.
Despite its undetermined hazard potential and unrated condition assessment, Wildon Grove Dam remains a vital structure for supporting local fish and wildlife populations. The dam's strategic location within the Baltimore District provides valuable water resource management opportunities for the surrounding area. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the dam's role in maintaining ecological balance and providing habitat diversity becomes increasingly significant.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Wildon Grove Dam offers a fascinating case study in private dam ownership and management. With its focus on environmental conservation and wildlife preservation, the dam stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water infrastructure in the face of changing climate conditions. As efforts to mitigate climate impacts on water resources intensify, Wildon Grove Dam serves as a critical example of how private entities can contribute to the resilience of local ecosystems and biodiversity.
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 Wildon Grove Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| N F Rivanna River Near Earlysville | 72 cfs | → |
| Rapidan River Near Ruckersville | 72 cfs | → |
| Robinson River Near Locust Dale | 85 cfs | → |
| Moormans River Near Free Union | 38 cfs | → |
| Rivanna River At Palmyra | 102 cfs | → |
| Mechums River Near White Hall | 27 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wildon Grove Dam.
Boat launches
- South Boston Road 3315, Fluvanna County
- River Anne Palmyra
- Columbia Road Columbia
- Boat Landing Lane Buckingham County
Campgrounds
- Christopher Run Campground
- Lake Anna State Park
- Loft Mountain - Shenandoah National Park
- Loft Mountain Campground
- Lewis Mountain Campground
- Lewis Mountain
Fishing spots
- Bealers Ferry Boat Launch
- Bealers Ferry Pond Accessible Fishing Site
- Moody Boat Launch
- Batzell Boat Launch
- Staunton Dam Day Use Area
- White Sulphur Pond
Paddle runs
- 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
- Bixler Bridge On State Route 675 To Karo Landing, Approximately 6 Miles South Of Town Of Front Royal
- North River Campground To Camp May Flather
- Segment B--State Route 730 Bridge To Nf Boundary
- Segment C--Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork Shenandoah River
Track Wildon Grove 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 Wildon Grove Dam
Where does the data for Wildon Grove 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 Wildon Grove Dam.