Bath County P S Upper Reservoir - Upper Dam dam
Bath County P S Upper Reservoir - Upper Dam
Located in Bath County, Virginia, the Bath County P S Upper Reservoir - Upper Dam is a key infrastructure for hydroelectric power generation. Built in 1984, this earth dam stands at a towering height of 460 feet and spans a length of 2200 feet, with a storage capacity of 37,500 acre-feet. The reservoir covers a surface area of 265 acres and is situated on Little Back Creek, with a drainage area of 2.4 square miles.
Managed by a public utility, this dam is under the oversight of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, its condition assessment is currently not available. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with a maximum discharge capacity of 32,400 cubic feet per second. While the risk assessment is moderate, there are no specific risk management measures outlined at this time.
With its impressive structural design and significant contribution to renewable energy production, the Bath County P S Upper Reservoir - Upper Dam serves as a vital component of the region's water resource management and climate resilience efforts. As a notable feature in the landscape of Mountain Grove, Virginia, this dam exemplifies the intersection of engineering innovation and environmental sustainability in harnessing the power of water for the benefit of the community.
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 Bath County P S Upper Reservoir - Upper Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Back Creek Near Sunrise | 37 cfs | → |
| Back Creek At Sunrise | 60 cfs | → |
| Back Creek Near Sunrise | 168 cfs | → |
| Back Creek Near Mountain Grove | 578 cfs | → |
| Jackson River Near Bacova | 95 cfs | → |
| Bullpasture River At Williamsville | 165 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bath County P S Upper Reservoir - Upper Dam .
Boat launches
- Lake Sherwood Road Greenbrier County
- Walton Tract Canoe Access Point
- Douthat State Park Road Bath County
- Buffalo Fork Road Pocahontas County
- Jackson River Canoe Access Points
- Walter Robinson Canoe Access Point
Campgrounds
- Bird Run
- Seneca State Forest
- Hidden Valley Recreation Area
- Blowing Springs Campground
- Blowing Springs
- Pocahontas Campground
Fishing spots
- Braley Pond Day Use Area
- Elkhorn Lake Day Use Area
- Staunton Dam Day Use Area
- Briery Branch Day Use Area
- Dry Fork
Paddle runs
- Segment B--Pump Storage Lake To Blowing Springs Campground
- Segment B--Northern Boundary, Hidden Valley Tract To Southern Boundary Of Hidden Valley Tract
- Segment C--Southern Boundary Hidden Valley Tract To Mcclintic Bridge
- Segment A--State Route 39 At Blowing Springs Campground To Lake Moomaw
- Ford Where Route 609 Departs From Route 678 To Confluence With Cowpasture River
- Tea Creek To Three Forks
More reservoirs
- Bath County P S Upper Reservoir - Upper Dam
- Bath County P S Fused Overpump Spillway - At Upper Reservoir
- Bath County P S Middle Sediment Dam
- Bath County P S Lower Sediment Dam
- Bath County P S Lower Reservoir - Lower Dam
- Bath County P S Upper Recreation Pond Dam
Track Bath County P S Upper Reservoir - Upper 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 Bath County P S Upper Reservoir - Upper Dam
Where does the data for Bath County P S Upper Reservoir - Upper 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 Bath County P S Upper Reservoir - Upper Dam .