Carroll Dam dam
Carroll Dam
Carroll Dam, located in Albemarle, Virginia, is a privately owned earth dam that stands at a height of 25 feet with a primary purpose of recreation. Situated on a tributary of the Mechums River, this dam provides a storage capacity of 58 acre-feet, making it a valuable resource for water enthusiasts in the area. Although the dam's hazard potential is undetermined and its condition has not been rated, it is regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Virginia.
Despite lacking detailed information on its structural integrity and emergency preparedness measures, Carroll Dam remains a significant feature in the region's water resource landscape. With its picturesque setting and recreational opportunities, it serves as a popular destination for outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, and wildlife observation. While the dam's specific construction date and modifications are unknown, its presence highlights the importance of maintaining and monitoring critical infrastructure to ensure the safety and sustainability of water resources for future generations.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts explore the diverse landscapes of Virginia, Carroll Dam stands out as a unique site that combines both natural beauty and human ingenuity. Although its risk assessment and emergency action plan status remain unclear, the dam's role in providing recreational opportunities and supporting local ecosystems underscores the interconnected relationship between water management and environmental conservation. By promoting responsible stewardship of water resources and investing in infrastructure maintenance, communities can continue to enjoy the benefits of dams like Carroll while safeguarding against potential risks and ensuring long-term sustainability.
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 Carroll 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 Carroll Dam.
Boat launches
- South Boston Road 3315, Fluvanna County
- River Anne Palmyra
- Columbia Road Columbia
- Boat Landing Lane Buckingham County
- Southlake Drive 9505, Spotsylvania County
Campgrounds
- Christopher Run Campground
- Lake Anna State Park
- Loft Mountain - Shenandoah National Park
- Lewis Mountain Campground
- Lewis Mountain
- Lewis Mountain - Shenandoah National Park
Fishing spots
- Bealers Ferry Boat Launch
- Bealers Ferry Pond Accessible Fishing Site
- Moody Boat Launch
- Batzell Boat Launch
- White Sulphur Pond
- Tomahawk Pond Day Use Area
Paddle runs
- Nf Boundary Along The South Fork Tye River Near Fdt 526 And State Highway 56 To Town Of Nash
- Bixler Bridge On State Route 675 To Karo Landing, Approximately 6 Miles South Of Town Of Front Royal
- Headwaters South Of Flint Mountain To St. Mary's Wilderness Boundary
- 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 Carroll 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 Carroll Dam
Where does the data for Carroll 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 Carroll Dam.