Red Hill Orchard Dam dam
Red Hill Orchard Dam
Red Hill Orchard Dam, located in Albemarle, Virginia, is a privately-owned earth dam primarily used for irrigation purposes. With a height of 24 feet and a length of 300 feet, this dam has a storage capacity of 160 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 92 acre-feet. Situated on a tributary of the Hardware River North Fork, this dam is regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Virginia, ensuring that it undergoes regular inspections, permitting, and enforcement to maintain safety and compliance.
Although the hazard potential of Red Hill Orchard Dam is currently classified as undetermined and its condition assessment is not rated, efforts are in place to ensure its safety and functionality. The dam has not been modified in recent years, and its emergency action plan status, inundation maps, risk assessment, and risk management measures are yet to be determined or updated. The dam is not owned or funded by any federal agency but falls under state jurisdiction, indicating its importance in the local water resource management and agricultural landscape in the region.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Red Hill Orchard Dam offers a glimpse into the intricate network of privately-owned irrigation infrastructure in Virginia. As a key component in the local water management system, this dam plays a crucial role in supporting agricultural activities in the area. With its strategic location and state-regulated status, Red Hill Orchard Dam serves as a reminder of the importance of proper dam maintenance and oversight in safeguarding water resources and mitigating potential risks associated with dam failure.
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 Red Hill Orchard Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mechums River Near White Hall | 27 cfs | → |
| James River At Scottsville | 1,600 cfs | → |
| Hardware River Bl Briery Run Nr Scottsville | 23 cfs | → |
| Rockfish River Near Greenfield | 41 cfs | → |
| Moormans River Near Free Union | 38 cfs | → |
| South River Near Dooms | 102 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Red Hill Orchard Dam.
Boat launches
- Howardsville Turnpike 11001, Albemarle County
- South Boston Road 3315, Fluvanna 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
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
- Headwaters To Farmville
- North River Campground To Camp May Flather
- 1 Mile Southeast Of Buchanan (At End Of Nfs Land) To Snowden Dam Reservoir
Track Red Hill Orchard 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 Red Hill Orchard Dam
Where does the data for Red Hill Orchard 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 Red Hill Orchard Dam.