Sugar Hollow Dam dam
Sugar Hollow Dam
Sugar Hollow Dam, also known as Moormans River Storage, is a gravity dam located in Albemarle, Virginia, owned by a public utility. The dam's primary purpose is water supply, with a storage capacity of 1,667 acre-feet and a normal storage of 1,320 acre-feet. Situated on the Moormans River, the dam has a height of 77 feet and a length of 480 feet, serving as a critical infrastructure for water resource management in the area.
Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Virginia, Sugar Hollow Dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state. With a high hazard potential, the dam is in satisfactory condition as of the last assessment in July 2020. While the dam does not have associated spillways or locks, it plays a vital role in securing water supply for the region, especially during times of drought or increased demand.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Sugar Hollow Dam stands as a symbol of effective water management and infrastructure maintenance. Its strategic location, design, and purpose highlight the importance of sustainable practices in ensuring water security for communities. As climate change impacts water availability, dams like Sugar Hollow play a crucial role in preserving and distributing this vital resource for future generations.
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 Sugar Hollow Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South River At Harriston | 106 cfs | → |
| South River Near Dooms | 102 cfs | → |
| Mechums River Near White Hall | 27 cfs | → |
| Moormans River Near Free Union | 38 cfs | → |
| South River Near Waynesboro | 38 cfs | → |
| Middle River Near Grottoes | 119 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sugar Hollow Dam.
Boat launches
- Lake Shenandoah Trail Rockingham County
- Grove Hill River Road Page County
- South Boston Road 3315, Fluvanna County
- Howardsville Turnpike 11001, Albemarle County
Campgrounds
- Girl Scout Camp
- Dundo
- Loft Mountain Campground
- Loft Mountain - Shenandoah National Park
- Hiker Camping
- Sherando Lake Recreation Area
Fishing spots
- Staunton Dam Day Use Area
- Elkhorn Lake Day Use Area
- Briery Branch Day Use Area
- Braley Pond Day Use Area
- Tomahawk Pond Day Use Area
- Bealers Ferry Boat Launch
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
- Ford Where Route 609 Departs From Route 678 To Confluence With Cowpasture River
- Headwaters To Farmville
- 1 Mile Southeast Of Buchanan (At End Of Nfs Land) To Snowden Dam Reservoir
Track Sugar Hollow 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 Sugar Hollow Dam
Where does the data for Sugar Hollow 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 High 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 Sugar Hollow Dam.