Craghead Dam dam
Craghead Dam
Craghead Dam, located in Bedford, Virginia, is a privately owned dam regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. This Earth type dam stands at a height of 22.25 feet and has a storage capacity of 55 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 41 acre-feet. The dam spans 400 feet in length and covers a surface area of 5.7 acres, serving a drainage area of 0.23 square miles.
Despite being classified as having an "Undetermined" hazard potential and being "Not Rated" in terms of condition assessment, Craghead Dam is subject to regular state inspections and enforcement. The dam has an emergency action plan in place, although details regarding its preparedness and adherence to guidelines are unspecified in the available data. With its location in a region prone to climate variability, water resource and climate enthusiasts may find interest in monitoring the risk management measures and potential impacts associated with Craghead Dam in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Craghead Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Goose Creek Near Huddleston | 40 cfs | → |
| Big Otter River Near Bedford | 53 cfs | → |
| Back Creek Near Dundee | 13 cfs | → |
| Roanoke River At Niagara | 167 cfs | → |
| Big Otter River Near Evington | 70 cfs | → |
| Blackwater River Near Rocky Mount | 36 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Craghead Dam.
Boat launches
- Oak Hollow Road Bedford County
- Oak Grove Drive Franklin County
- State Park Road Bedford County
- Dudley Amos Road Franklin County
- Hardy Road Bedford County
- Jefferson Dock Road Arrowhead
Campgrounds
- Smith Mountain Lake
- Camp Lowman
- Peaks Of Otter - Blue Ridge Parkway
- Peaks Of Otter Campground
- Roanoke Mtn
- Roanoke Mountain - Blue Ridge Parkway
Paddle runs
- Top Of Apple Orchards Falls To Confluence Of North Creek With Jennings Creek
- 1 Mile Southeast Of Buchanan (At End Of Nfs Land) To Snowden Dam Reservoir
- Segment A--Route 42 Bridge To Confluence With Jackson River
- Headwaters To Farmville
- Segment B--Confluence With Bullpasture River To Route 42 Bridge
- Segment D--Gathright Dam To State Route 687 Bridge At Clearwater Park
Track Craghead 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 Craghead Dam
Where does the data for Craghead 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 Craghead Dam.