Jenson Dam dam
Jenson Dam
Jenson Dam, located in Albemarle, Virginia, is a state-regulated structure with a height of 25 feet and a storage capacity of 36 acre-feet. The dam, primarily used for flood control and water storage purposes, is classified as an earth dam and is situated along a tributary of Redbud Creek. Despite its undetermined hazard potential and lack of a condition assessment rating, the dam is inspected annually by the Department of Conservation and Recreation to ensure its safety and operational integrity.
Managed by the state of Virginia, Jenson Dam falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Conservation and Recreation, which oversees its permitting, inspection, and enforcement processes. The dam's emergency action plan status, risk assessment, and risk management measures are currently not rated or assessed, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and evaluation of its structural integrity. The dam's location and coordinates, at 38.0633 latitude and -78.4167 longitude, make it a vital component of the region's water resource management infrastructure.
While Jenson Dam's detailed design specifics, construction history, and maintenance records are not readily available, the dam remains a critical structure for flood protection and water supply in the area. As climate change continues to impact water resources and weather patterns, it is essential for water resource and climate enthusiasts to stay informed about the state of infrastructure like Jenson Dam to ensure its resilience and effectiveness in mitigating potential risks and hazards associated with extreme weather events.
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 Jenson Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| N F Rivanna River Near Earlysville | 72 cfs | → |
| Moormans River Near Free Union | 38 cfs | → |
| Mechums River Near White Hall | 27 cfs | → |
| Rapidan River Near Ruckersville | 72 cfs | → |
| Rivanna River At Palmyra | 102 cfs | → |
| Hardware River Bl Briery Run Nr Scottsville | 23 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Jenson Dam.
Boat launches
- South Boston Road 3315, Fluvanna County
- River Anne Palmyra
- Boat Landing Lane Buckingham County
- Columbia Road Columbia
- Howardsville Turnpike 11001, Albemarle County
Campgrounds
- Girl Scout Camp
- Loft Mountain - Shenandoah National Park
- Loft Mountain Campground
- Dundo
- Hiker Camping
- Lewis Mountain Campground
Fishing spots
- Staunton Dam Day Use Area
- Bealers Ferry Boat Launch
- Bealers Ferry Pond Accessible Fishing Site
- Elkhorn Lake Day Use Area
- Briery Branch Day Use Area
- Moody Boat Launch
Track Jenson 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 Jenson Dam
Where does the data for Jenson 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 Jenson Dam.