Fairview Lake Dam dam
Fairview Lake Dam
Fairview Lake Dam, also known as Holmes Run #2a, is a gravity dam located in Fairfax, Virginia, owned by the local government. The dam is primarily designed for flood risk reduction along Holmes Run, with a maximum storage capacity of 785 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 179.9 acre-feet. The dam stands at a height of 26.5 feet and stretches 201.5 feet in length, regulating a drainage area of 2.48 square miles.
Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Virginia, Fairview Lake Dam has a high hazard potential but was assessed to be in satisfactory condition as of May 2020. The dam undergoes regular inspections, with the last one conducted in May 2020, to ensure its structural integrity and safety. Despite its critical role in flood risk reduction, the dam does not have an Emergency Action Plan prepared, highlighting the need for proactive emergency preparedness measures to mitigate potential risks to the surrounding community.
Situated under the jurisdiction of the Baltimore District, Fairview Lake Dam plays a vital role in regulating water flow and protecting the surrounding area from flooding. With its strategic location and crucial purpose, the dam serves as a significant asset in water resource and climate management efforts in Fairfax, 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 Fairview Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Accotink Creek Near Annandale | 4 cfs | → |
| Long Branch Near Annandale | 1 cfs | → |
| Potomac River Near Wash | 2,550 cfs | → |
| Cameron Run At Alexandria | 6 cfs | → |
| Fourmile Run At Alexandria | 3 cfs | → |
| Difficult Run Near Great Falls | 14 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Fairview Lake Dam.
⚓ Boat launches
- Wayne F Anderson Bikeway Alexandria
- Gravelly Point Boat Ramp
- Potomac Hills Street Fairfax County
- Anacostia Park Boat Ramp
- Ludgate Drive Mount Vernon
- Forest Hill Road Lake Ridge
⛺ Campgrounds
- Marsden Tract Campground
- Marsden Tract Group Campsite
- Lake Fairfax
- Burke Lake Park
- Swains Lock Hiker-Biker Campsite
- Fort Belvoir Travel And Rv Camp
Track Fairview Lake 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 Fairview Lake Dam
Where does the data for Fairview Lake 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 Fairview Lake Dam.