Chopin Dam dam
Chopin Dam
Chopin Dam, located in Albemarle, Virginia, is a privately owned structure regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. This earth dam, standing at 25 feet high, was primarily designed for recreation purposes, with a storage capacity of 60 acre-feet and a surface area of 4 acres. The dam is situated on a tributary of the North Fork Hardware River and falls under the jurisdiction of the state, with permitting, inspection, and enforcement managed by state agencies.
Despite its undetermined hazard potential and unrated condition assessment, Chopin Dam remains a significant feature in the region, offering recreational opportunities for water resource and climate enthusiasts. The dam has not undergone recent modifications or inspections, and emergency preparedness measures such as an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) and inundation maps are not currently in place. However, its presence contributes to the natural landscape and provides a source of enjoyment for visitors seeking outdoor activities near the river.
As an essential component of the water infrastructure in the area, Chopin Dam serves as a focal point for environmental stewardship and conservation efforts. With its historical significance and potential for future recreational development, this earth dam represents a unique intersection of human ingenuity and natural beauty. For enthusiasts passionate about water resources and climate, Chopin Dam offers a glimpse into the importance of sustainable dam management and the integration of recreational facilities within the natural ecosystem.
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 Chopin Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mechums River Near White Hall | 27 cfs | → |
| Moormans River Near Free Union | 38 cfs | → |
| Rockfish River Near Greenfield | 41 cfs | → |
| Hardware River Bl Briery Run Nr Scottsville | 23 cfs | → |
| James River At Scottsville | 1,600 cfs | → |
| N F Rivanna River Near Earlysville | 72 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Chopin Dam.
Boat launches
- South Boston Road 3315, Fluvanna County
- Howardsville Turnpike 11001, Albemarle County
- River Anne Palmyra
- Nelson County
- James River Road Nelson County
- Boat Landing Lane Buckingham County
Campgrounds
- Girl Scout Camp
- Hiker Camping
- Dundo
- Loft Mountain - Shenandoah National Park
- Loft Mountain Campground
- Sherando Lake Recreation Area
Fishing spots
- Staunton Dam Day Use Area
- Elkhorn Lake Day Use Area
- Braley Pond Day Use Area
- Briery Branch Day Use Area
- Bealers Ferry Boat Launch
- Bealers Ferry Pond Accessible Fishing Site
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
- North River Campground To Camp May Flather
- Headwaters To Farmville
- 1 Mile Southeast Of Buchanan (At End Of Nfs Land) To Snowden Dam Reservoir
- Ford Where Route 609 Departs From Route 678 To Confluence With Cowpasture River
Track Chopin 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 Chopin Dam
Where does the data for Chopin 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 Chopin Dam.