Bath County P S Lower Reservoir - Lower Dam dam
Bath County P S Lower Reservoir - Lower Dam
The Bath County P S Lower Reservoir - Lower Dam is a vital structure located in Bath, Virginia, designed by HARZA ENGINEERING COMPANY and completed in 1984. This earth dam stands at a height of 135 feet, with a hydraulic height of 118 feet and a structural height of 170 feet, serving a primary purpose of hydroelectric power generation. With a storage capacity of 30,500 acre-feet and a surface area of 555 acres, this dam on Back Creek plays a crucial role in water resource management and energy production in the region.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, this dam boasts a controlled spillway with a width of 64 feet and two Tainter (radial) outlet gates. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is not available, indicating the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety of downstream communities and infrastructure. With a risk assessment rating of Very High (1), it is evident that the Bath County P S Lower Reservoir - Lower Dam is a critical component of the local water resource and climate landscape, demanding attention and proactive risk management measures to safeguard its operations and surrounding areas from potential hazards.
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 Lower Reservoir - Lower Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Back Creek At Sunrise | 60 cfs | → |
| Little Back Creek Near Sunrise | 37 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 Lower Reservoir - Lower Dam .
Boat launches
- Lake Sherwood Road Greenbrier County
- Walton Tract Canoe Access Point
- Douthat State Park Road Bath County
- Jackson River Canoe Access Points
- Buffalo Fork Road Pocahontas County
- Walter Robinson Canoe Access Point
Campgrounds
- Bird Run
- Hidden Valley Recreation Area
- Blowing Springs
- Blowing Springs Campground
- Seneca State Forest
- Pocahontas Campground
Fishing spots
- Braley Pond Day Use Area
- Elkhorn Lake Day Use Area
- Staunton Dam Day Use Area
- Briery Branch Day Use Area
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
- Segment B--Confluence With Bullpasture River To Route 42 Bridge
More reservoirs
- Bath County P S Lower Reservoir - Lower Dam
- Bath County P S Upper Recreation Pond Dam
- Bath County P S Lower Recreation Pond Dam
- Bath County P S Lower Sediment Dam
- Bath County P S Middle Sediment Dam
- Bath County P S Fused Overpump Spillway - At Upper Reservoir
Track Bath County P S Lower Reservoir - Lower 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 Lower Reservoir - Lower Dam
Where does the data for Bath County P S Lower Reservoir - Lower 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 Lower Reservoir - Lower Dam .