Forest Lakes Dam dam
Forest Lakes Dam
Forest Lakes Dam, located in Frederick County, Virginia, is a privately owned structure regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. This dam stands at a height of 32.75 feet with a storage capacity of 297.63 acre-feet, providing vital water resources for the surrounding area. Despite being categorized as having an undetermined hazard potential and not yet rated for condition assessment, the dam undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety and reliability.
The dam, with a length of 260 feet and a surface area of 14.3 acres, plays a crucial role in water management and conservation efforts in the region. Although specific details on purposes and types of the dam are not provided, its significance in the local water supply infrastructure is evident. With its strategic location and capacity, Forest Lakes Dam serves as a key structure for maintaining water levels, supporting irrigation, and enhancing the overall ecosystem health of the area.
Furthermore, the dam's association with the Baltimore District of the US Army Corps of Engineers underscores its importance in the larger context of water resource management. As climate change continues to impact water availability and quality, the maintenance and proper functioning of dams like Forest Lakes Dam are essential for ensuring sustainable water usage and resilience to climate-related challenges in the region.
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 Forest Lakes Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar Creek Near Winchester | 19 cfs | → |
| Passage Creek Near Buckton | 13 cfs | → |
| Spout Run At Rt 621 Near Millwood | 10 cfs | → |
| Opequon Creek Near Berryville | 15 cfs | → |
| N F Shenandoah River Near Strasburg | 121 cfs | → |
| S F Shenandoah River At Front Royal | 478 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Forest Lakes Dam.
Boat launches
- Country Club Road Warren County
- Luray Avenue Front Royal
- Strasburg Trail Strasburg
- Harry Byrd Highway Clarke County
- Boat Ramp Warren County
- Misty Meadow Lane Warren County
Campgrounds
- Camp Slater
- Camp Washington
- Elizabeth Furnace Family Campground
- Elizabeth Furnace
- Mosby Campground
- Mudhole Gap Camping
Fishing spots
- White Sulphur Pond
- Batzell Boat Launch
- Moody Boat Launch
- Bealers Ferry Boat Launch
- Bealers Ferry Pond Accessible Fishing Site
- Potomac River Reservoir
Paddle runs
- Headwaters Adjacent To Fdt 573 To State Route 622 Bridge
- State Route 675 At Edinburg, Va To State Highway 55 Southeast Of Strasburg, Va
- Segment C--Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork Shenandoah River
- Segment B--State Route 730 Bridge To Nf Boundary
- Bixler Bridge On State Route 675 To Karo Landing, Approximately 6 Miles South Of Town Of Front Royal
- Capon Bridge To Ends Just South Of Largent
Track Forest Lakes 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 Forest Lakes Dam
Where does the data for Forest Lakes 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 Forest Lakes Dam.