Willis River Dam #5e dam
Willis River Dam #5e
Willis River Dam #5e, also known as Hardiman, is a local government-owned structure located in Buckingham, Virginia. This earth dam, standing at a height of 41.7 feet, serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction along the Whispering Creek. With a storage capacity of 1,448 acre-feet, this dam plays a crucial role in managing water flow in the area and protecting the surrounding communities from potential flooding.
Managed and regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Virginia, Willis River Dam #5e has a high hazard potential but is currently in fair condition, as assessed during the last inspection in October 2019. The dam has a normal storage capacity of 185 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 18.2 acres, with a drainage area of 6.6 square miles. Despite its age, the dam continues to function effectively in mitigating flood risks and ensuring the safety of residents in the region.
With its strategic location and essential role in flood risk reduction, Willis River Dam #5e stands as a vital water resource infrastructure in the Norfolk District. Climate enthusiasts and water resource advocates can appreciate the engineering behind this structure, as it demonstrates effective management of water flow and protection against potential disasters. As efforts continue to maintain and monitor the dam's condition, it remains a key asset in safeguarding the local community and enhancing water resilience in the face of changing climate patterns.
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 Willis River Dam #5e -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday Creek Near Andersonville | 2 cfs | → |
| Slate River Near Arvonia | 65 cfs | → |
| Appomattox River At Farmville | 80 cfs | → |
| Buffalo Creek Near Hampden Sydney | 29 cfs | → |
| James River At Scottsville | 1,600 cfs | → |
| Hardware River Bl Briery Run Nr Scottsville | 23 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Willis River Dam #5e.
Boat launches
- State Park Road 2618, Appomattox County
- Boat Landing Lane Buckingham County
- James River Road Nelson County
- Nelson County
- Sandy River Reservoir Boat Ramp
- Howardsville Turnpike 11001, Albemarle County
Campgrounds
- Bear Creek Lake State Park
- Holliday Lake State Park
- James River State Park
- Twin Lakes State Park
- Westview On The James
Track Willis River Dam #5e 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 Willis River Dam #5e
Where does the data for Willis River Dam #5e 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 Willis River Dam #5e.