Upper Izaak Walton Dam dam
Upper Izaak Walton Dam
The Upper Izaak Walton Dam, located in Lynchburg, Virginia, stands as a private earth dam primarily built for recreational purposes along the North Fork of Stovall Creek. Standing at a height of 24.86 feet and a length of 350 feet, this dam provides a storage capacity of 61 acre-feet, with a normal storage capacity of 43.07 acre-feet. The dam, designed by Hurt and Proffitt, Inc., is regulated and inspected by the Department of Conservation and Recreation of Virginia, ensuring its structural integrity and safety.
With a significant hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment as of August 2020, the Upper Izaak Walton Dam has a moderate risk level but meets regulatory guidelines. The spillway, of uncontrolled type and 24 feet wide, adds to the safety measures of the dam. The surrounding area offers a surface area of 5 acres and a drainage area of 0.23 square miles, contributing to the dam's scenic and ecological value. Overall, the Upper Izaak Walton Dam provides both recreational opportunities and environmental benefits, making it a significant feature within the water resource and climate landscape of Virginia.
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 Upper Izaak Walton Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| James River At Holcomb Rock | 1,250 cfs | → |
| Piney River At Piney River | 49 cfs | → |
| James River At Bent Creek | 826 cfs | → |
| Tye River Near Lovingston | 72 cfs | → |
| Pedlar River At Forest Road Near Buena Vista | 43 cfs | → |
| Big Otter River Near Bedford | 53 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Izaak Walton Dam.
Boat launches
- Monacan Park Road 1354, Amherst County
- Clemmons Lake Trail Lynchburg
- Richmond Highway Appomattox County
- Elon Road Amherst County
- James River Road Nelson County
- Nelson County
Campgrounds
- Otter Creek - Blue Ridge Parkway
- Otter Creek Recreation Area
- James River State Park
- Oronoco
- Town Shelter (With Shower, Toilet & Electricity)
- Glen Maury Park
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Farmville
- 1 Mile Southeast Of Buchanan (At End Of Nfs Land) To Snowden Dam Reservoir
- Nf Boundary Along The South Fork Tye River Near Fdt 526 And State Highway 56 To Town Of Nash
- Top Of Apple Orchards Falls To Confluence Of North Creek With Jennings Creek
- Headwaters South Of Flint Mountain To St. Mary's Wilderness Boundary
- Segment A--Route 42 Bridge To Confluence With Jackson River
Track Upper Izaak Walton 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 Upper Izaak Walton Dam
Where does the data for Upper Izaak Walton 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 Significant 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 Upper Izaak Walton Dam.