Swiss Dixie Dam dam
Swiss Dixie Dam
Swiss Dixie Dam, located in Blackstone, Virginia, is a private earth dam primarily used for recreational purposes. Standing at 23 feet tall and spanning 500 feet in length, this dam boasts a storage capacity of 363 acre-feet and a surface area of 20.1 acres. It is regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Virginia, ensuring that state permitting, inspection, and enforcement are all in place.
The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled with a width of 21 feet, and it has been assessed with a low hazard potential and satisfactory condition as of the last inspection in March 2014. While the risk assessment is moderate, the dam meets guidelines for emergency action plans, although no revised plan has been reported since January 2008. The surrounding Beaver Pond Creek adds to the picturesque landscape, making Swiss Dixie Dam a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts and climate enthusiasts alike to enjoy water-based activities and appreciate the importance of effective dam management in ensuring safety and environmental preservation.
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 Swiss Dixie Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Deep Creek Near Mannboro | 15 cfs | → |
| Appomattox River At Mattoax | 115 cfs | → |
| Fine Creek At Fine Creek Mills | 2 cfs | → |
| Appomattox River At Farmville | 80 cfs | → |
| Nottoway River Near Rawlings | 33 cfs | → |
| James River At Cartersville | 1,580 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Swiss Dixie Dam.
Boat launches
- Mill Quarter Road 1384, Powhatan
- Lake Chesdin Parkway Chesterfield County
- Woolridge Road Boat Ramp
- Commodore Point Place 3801, Brandermill
- Mill Mount Trail Powhatan County
- Otter's Path Trail Prince Edward County
Track Swiss Dixie 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 Swiss Dixie Dam
Where does the data for Swiss Dixie 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 Low 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 Swiss Dixie Dam.