Carter Family Dam dam
Carter Family Dam
Situated in Franklin, Virginia, the Carter Family Dam, formerly known as Mink Dam, is a privately owned earth dam primarily used for recreation purposes. With a height of 13.5 feet and a storage capacity of 65 acre-feet, this dam provides a surface area of 5.8 acres for outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. Despite its undetermined hazard potential and unassessed condition, the Department of Conservation and Recreation oversees the regulatory aspects of the dam, ensuring its compliance with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement requirements.
Owned by a private entity, the Carter Family Dam offers a serene water resource in the heart of Franklin, Virginia, attracting water and climate enthusiasts seeking leisure and relaxation. The dam's location, at a latitude of 36.9348 and longitude of -79.8782, provides a picturesque setting for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy the natural beauty of the area. Although the dam's construction year is unspecified, its recreational focus and state-regulated status make it a popular destination for locals and visitors alike.
With its modest height and storage capacity, the Carter Family Dam serves as a valuable recreational asset in Franklin, Virginia. While its hazard potential and condition assessment remain undecided, the dam's commitment to state regulatory guidelines ensures the safety and enjoyment of all who visit. Whether for fishing, boating, or simply basking in the natural surroundings, this privately owned dam offers a sanctuary for water resource and climate enthusiasts to appreciate the beauty of Virginia's landscape.
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 Carter Family Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Blackwater River Near Rocky Mount | 36 cfs | → |
| Smith River At Bassett | 129 cfs | → |
| Smith River Near Philpott | 126 cfs | → |
| Smith River At Martinsville | 181 cfs | → |
| Pigg River Near Sandy Level | 93 cfs | → |
| Back Creek Near Dundee | 13 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Carter Family Dam.
Boat launches
- Dudley Amos Road Franklin County
- Jefferson Dock Road Arrowhead
- Oak Grove Drive Franklin County
- State Park Road Bedford County
- Oak Hollow Road Bedford County
- Hardy Road Bedford County
Campgrounds
- Goose Dam
- Jamison Mill Park - Philpott Lake
- Salthouse Branch - Philpott Lake
- Horseshoe Point - Philpott Lake
- Goose Point - Philpott Lake
- Ryans Branch - Philpott Lake
Fishing spots
- Baker Branch
- Blackies Branch
- Buck Island Creek
- Belews Lake
- Cherokee Flats Day Use Area
- After Bay Reservoir
Paddle runs
- Top Of Apple Orchards Falls To Confluence Of North Creek With Jennings Creek
- Jefferson Nf Boundary (Above Cascades Fall) To Jefferson Nf Boundary (Below Cascades Fall)
- Jefferson Nf Boundary Near Confluence With Nettle Hollow To Confluence With Laurel Branch
- 1 Mile Southeast Of Buchanan (At End Of Nfs Land) To Snowden Dam Reservoir
Track Carter Family 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 Carter Family Dam
Where does the data for Carter Family 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 Carter Family Dam.