Walker Dam dam
Walker Dam
Walker Dam in Franklin, Virginia, is a private earth dam that stands at a height of 28.5 feet, with a storage capacity of 51.98 acre-feet. Owned and regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Virginia, this dam has not been rated for its condition assessment and its hazard potential remains undetermined. Despite its critical role in water resource management, the dam lacks significant information on its construction year or modifications over the years.
Situated in the Wilmington District, Walker Dam plays a vital role in the local water infrastructure, with a normal storage capacity of 25.8 acre-feet and a surface area of 3 acres. The dam's primary purpose and specific design features remain unspecified, raising questions about its operational efficiency and structural integrity. With its location in a region susceptible to climate change impacts, ensuring the dam's safety and effectiveness is crucial for sustainable water resource management.
While Walker Dam's emergency action plan status and risk assessment details are yet to be determined, its presence in a regulated state jurisdiction underscores the importance of proactive monitoring and maintenance. As climate enthusiasts and water resource advocates, understanding the complexities of infrastructure like Walker Dam is essential for safeguarding communities and ecosystems against potential hazards and ensuring the sustainable use of water resources in the face of a changing climate.
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 Walker Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pigg River Near Sandy Level | 93 cfs | → |
| Blackwater River Near Rocky Mount | 36 cfs | → |
| Smith River At Martinsville | 181 cfs | → |
| Smith River At Bassett | 129 cfs | → |
| Smith River Near Philpott | 126 cfs | → |
| Sandy River Near Danville | 23 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Walker Dam.
Boat launches
- Jefferson Dock Road Arrowhead
- Dudley Amos Road Franklin County
- State Park Road Bedford County
- Oak Grove Drive Franklin County
- Oak Hollow Road Bedford County
- South Fieldcrest Road Draper Village
Campgrounds
- Goose Dam
- Salthouse Branch - Philpott Lake
- Smith Mountain Lake
- Goose Point - Philpott Lake
- Jamison Mill Park - Philpott Lake
- Horseshoe Point - Philpott Lake
Fishing spots
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
More reservoirs
Track Walker 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 Walker Dam
Where does the data for Walker 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 Walker Dam.